Latest News
All the latest news from the world of languages and language teaching.BBC News: Language GCSE decline ‘closes doors’ for young people
Children who do not learn other languages risk missing out on career opportunities and life experiences, according to linguists in Wales. The Language Trends Wales report, which reviews foreign language teaching, called for a national strategy on languages amid...
Talking Humanities: We have to deploy modern languages in confronting our challenges
Modern languages in the UK is at a crucial stage in its development, write Institute of Modern Languages Research director Professor Charles Burdett and Professor Claire Gorrara, dean of research and innovation at Cardiff University. If the discipline is to ‘thrive...
Government response to the initial teacher training (ITT) market review report
"While many factors contribute to making a school great, it can ultimately only ever be as good as the people that work there. It is therefore vital that teachers and school leaders get the support they need to change the lives of the children they teach. With the...
Language associations, unions and exam boards unite in call for rethink of reform of GCSE Modern Foreign Languages
JOINT STATEMENT, 25TH NOVEMBER 2021 GCSE Modern Foreign Languages Please read the joint statement from the Association for Language learning alongside other language associations, unions and exam boards united in the call for a rethink of reform of GCSE Modern Foreign...
It’s a Myth That Adults Can’t Learn Languages as Easily as Kids – Benefits Multiply if Families Learn Together
Adults can learn a second language as fast as children, reports a new study—and it’s only the conditions in which a child learns a second language that’s given kids a reputation as such fast learners. This means that adults can develop the increased neural connections...
There are no passengers on planet earth, we are all crew.
‘There are no passengers on planet earth, we are all crew.’ The British Council International School Award and wider schools offer. Did you know that as the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities, the British...
Policy Mechanisms of the Standard Language Ideology in England’s Education System
The Journal of Language, Identity & Education has published a thought-provoking article entitled ' Policy Mechanisms of the Standard Language Ideology in England’s Education System' by Ian Cushing, a Lecturer in Education at Brunel University London....
Teacher Briefing 30: Language Trends 2021
Theme: Language Trends 2021 (impact of the pandemic) Background: The annual Language Trends survey carried out now by the British Council tracks what’s happening with regards to language teaching and learning in the UK Some messages: “It is clear from our survey that teachers are working incredibly […]
COE Newsroom: European Day of Languages 2021: “All voices matter” says Secretary General
26 September 2021 marks the 20th anniversary of the European Day of Languages. Since 2001, the Day has been celebrating the rich tapestry of languages coexisting in Europe and beyond. According to Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić “The...
New York Times: Lesson of the Day: ‘How Language Classes Are Moving Past the Gender Binary’
In this lesson, students will learn about how teachers are making gendered languages more inclusive — then research a language to make their own suggestions. Lesson Overview Featured Article: “How Language Classes Are Moving Past the Gender Binary” by Molly...
Australia needs to make languages compulsory
Over many decades, governments and others have made commitments to increasing Australia’s ‘Asia literacy’. But is this goal being met? Has the growth in investment in language programs and language study seen in the 1980s resulted in lasting change, or is Australia...
New Study Explains Why Human Languages Share a Lot of The Same Grammar
There are around 7,000 human languages that we know of worldwide, and while they're all unique, they're also more similar than you might have realized – particularly when it comes to the grammar, or the way that sentences can be formed and used. That might be because...
European Day of Languages 2021
European Day of Languages 2021 Annual competition for schools in the UK organised in North-East England My time capsule ALLNE, NfLNE and partners are once again organising the annual European Day of Languages Competition for Schools and in 2021 it is again open to...
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