Latest News
All the latest news from the world of languages and language teaching.Granta names world’s best young Spanish-language writers
List celebrating authors under-35 includes Cubans for first time and more authors of colour. A mystical murder story set to the rhythms of Inca ritual dancing, a tale of quotidian corruption in Equatorial Guinea, and a psychedelic musing on exile in outer space are...
DfE consultation on GCSE MFL Content Review and associated activity.
ALL encourages members to respond to the DfE Content Review which is now open until 19 May 2021. There is a parallel OFQUAL consultation on ensuing arrangements for the examinations themselves. The Teacher Briefing 29 gives some of the key points about these...
Pardon my French: dismay in Quebec as francophones fail language test
Exams cause many a little anxiety but The Guardian reports that the Quebec province's 'notoriously difficult' language requirements are causing even native speakers a little trouble. You can read the article in full here.
Madeleine Bedford – former President of ALL
Madeleine Bedford – former President of ALL Members will be saddened to learn of the recent death of Madeleine Bedford after a lengthy illness. Madeleine was also an active member of NALA and for a long time the Languages Adviser in Hampshire, where she worked...
Wonkhe: Modern languages are far from dead
Reports of the demise of Modern Languages are premature, says Andrea Wilczynski, Head of the School of Modern Languages at Newcastle University. But universities need to continue to innovate and adapt their programmes to changing demands. We often hear reports that...
UKALTA
Meeting UKALTA at Language World 2021 Attending Language World Conference for the first time in 2021 was new member Professor Lynda Taylor, President of UKALTA. We welcome her, and asked her to tell us more about her Association. ‘UKALTA is the UK Association for...
#CelebrateSpeaking
Express Yourself in Lockdown, Spring 2021 This year’s Celebration of Speaking is now over, but you can still take a / listen look at how people have celebrated by putting into Twitter Search #CelebrateSpeaking. You’ll find there some of the contributions to...
MFL Teachers added to the Shortage Occupation list.
Modern Foreign Language teachers will have a greater opportunity to come to the UK following changes announced to immigration rules by the Home Office and UK Visas and Immigration. Rule changes have taken place to make it easier to recruit modern foreign language...
Express Yourself in Lockdown
Express Yourself in Lockdown, Spring 2021 This year’s Celebration of Speaking is now over, but you can still take a / listen look at how people have celebrated by putting into Twitter Search #CelebrateSpeaking. You’ll find there some of the contributions to...
The Guardian: Thousands of UK language students left in limbo as Brexit hits travel plans
Universities say they have received inadequate guidance on red tape and costs for academic years abroad according to a report in The Guardian. Thousands of UK students hoping to spend the year abroad are caught in limbo after facing major disruption to their travel...
The Guardian: Coronaangst ridden? Overzoomed? Covid inspires 1,200 new German words
The Guardian has reported about a linguist who compiled list of words says they help tell story of life during pandemic. From coronamüde (tired of Covid-19) to Coronafrisur (corona hairstyle), a German project is documenting the huge number of new words coined in the...
The Guardian: Fears language degrees at risk as Erasmus replacement focuses on UK trade agenda
The Guardian newspaper reported on the new Turing Scheme and concerns raised about the impact of the scheme focusing on the UK trade agenda and the impact this might have on the study of modern languages at university level. To read the article in full, click...
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Responding as a community to issues which concern the teaching of languages.
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Press releases & open letters from the Association for Language Learning.