Looking at my track record it's fair to say that I was an unlikely candidate for a modern languages
degree. I achieved a B in French GCSE, and plummeted spectacularly when
I received a D at AS-level. At parents evening my tutor said that I
simply wasn't cut out for studying languages at an academic level.
Skip
forwards four years and you'll find me writing from my desk in the
University of Rosario in Bogota, Colombia. I'm on a placement year as
part of my language degree which I am studying at the University of
Leeds.
Full article in the Guardian
Monday, 25 February 2013
Thursday, 14 February 2013
Languages: the State of the Nation: new publication from the British Academy
Languages: the State of the Nation
Demand and Supply
of Language Skills in the UK
The British Academy has today launched Languages: the
State of the Nation. The report, prepared by Teresa Tinsley, outlines
the baseline data on foreign language use and deficits in England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
Key findings from the report include:
·
There is strong evidence
that the UK is suffering from a growing deficit in foreign language
skills at a time when globally demand for language skills is expanding.
·
The range and nature
of languages being taught is insufficient to meet current and future
demand
·
Language skills are needed at
all levels in the workforce, and not simply by an internationally-mobile
elite
·
A weak supply of language
skills is pushing down demand and creating a vicious circle of
monolingualism
·
Languages spoken by British
school children, in addition to English, represent a valuable future source
of supply – if these skills can be developed appropriately.
These findings present us with cause for both cautious
optimism and rising concern. Our diverse demographics and world-class higher
education system provide us with the tools to respond to the challenges and
opportunities of the future. But, too often, education policies are operating
in isolation of demand. The report concludes that without action from
government, employment and education sectors, we will be unable to meet our
aspirations for growth and global influence.
Click here
to download the Summary and Full Reports.