It will help if, from the outset, you encourage your pupils to get into the mindset of being a Languages Investigator. You might prompt them with the following questions:

· What does an investigator do? ( uncover/ find out, collect information, sort information, analyse information, draw conclusions, problem solve, decision make, consider the choices/ options )

· What skills does an investigator require? ( patience, persistence, open-mindedness, creativity, good communication )

· If you were a languages investigator what would you like to investigate about the worlds languages?

The website Reaching Out covers a number of issues.

Pupils might wish to consider the following:

· Why do we speak different languages?

· Which are the most widely spoken languages?

· Why are some languages more widely spoken than others?

· Is it possible for a language to die?

· Why are some languages more similar than others?

· What would the world be like if people only spoke their mother tongue?

· Why is it important to learn other languages?

· How would we communicate if we couldn’t speak?

· Can animals speak? ( Though not strictly related the sounds of the world's animals is great fun)