A trio of animated characters are landing in thousands of classrooms to give children a language learning leg-up.

Gling, Luna and Sigi are the stars of a new resource, designed by staff at the University of East Anglia (UEA), to help children to master a foreign tongue.

LinguaSign, which is a series of DVDs that introduces youngsters to speaking and listening skills in new languages, is also designed to help teachers to deliver lessons.

The resource comes as the government prepares to review the primary and secondary national curriculum, including the future of modern foreign languages.

At the moment, most primary school teachers have little or no specialist language training, but could be expected to teach the subject in the future.

Developed for use at key stage two, LinguaSign is the result of a three-year European collaboration involving trials at schools in the UK, France and Holland.

It uses 3D animations and avatars voiced by native speakers in a series of inter-linked stories, using gestures to reinforce language learning, with the added benefit that the teacher does not need to have prior knowledge of the language being taught.

The resource uses software developed by UEA's school of computing sciences.

The DVDs are available in French and English, with further languages expected to be added, depending on demand.

Taster discs have also been created that allow classes to try Dutch, Portuguese, English and French stories.

Prof John Glauert, technical lead for the project, said: 'The animations introduce a native speaker into the classroom which helps give confidence to teachers who do not have experience of teaching a second language.'

Helen Keer from Sprowston Junior School in Norwich has been involved in the appraisal of the new resources. She said: 'My pupils have really enjoyed using LinguaSign to improve their language skills. Every time we used it they were enthusiastic and keen to join in.

'This is a great resource to use; it's fun, it's easy, it's effective and it's pitched just right.'

The DVDs are available to buy via www.linguasign.com.

steve.downes@archant.co.uk