A SPECIAL presentation to Perth and Kinross Council’s lifelong learning committee yesterday highlighted a creative approach to learning languages in three local schools.

Pupils at Perth High School, Blairgowrie High School and Breadalbane Academy wrote, directed and produced short films in different languages, with Breadalbane Academy’s —in Gaelic and Chinese— believed to be a first.

Committee members saw the films as part of the presentation, with introductions from pupils at Perth High and Blairgowrie High.

Breadalbane’s film is based on a Chinese fable with the theme of good and evil—it sees a pearl and two creatures transformed into a loch and two mountains.

It seemed an ideal match given the freshwater pearls that can be found in the River Tay and the school’s proximity to Schiehallion and Loch Tay.

Work on the film brought together pupils from P6 to S6, with a focus on the transition from primary to secondary education.

Blairgowrie High’s film involved pupils from S1 to S6 and was in French and German, looking at language learning, with Hamish the Hamster finding a unique solution out and about in the town.

Fourth-year pupils at Perth High produced a film in German which took the theme of “There is nothing on TV,” taking a look at Perth itself and playing on the Scots language for humorous translations.

The films were developed following an initial proposal to all modern language departments in June 2006 to look at making a short film in either French or German.

Pupils put their IT skills and talents in writing, art and animation to good use to make the films, supported by modern languages, art and English teaching staff in schools, and officers from the council’s education and children’s services.

Inspiration and advice came from visits to the Discovery Film Festival at Dundee Contemporary Arts, and meetings with industry professionals.

Lifelong learning convener Councillor Liz Grant said, “These are excellent examples of creative thinking about learning and commitment from pupils and staff to develop something interesting and unique.”