Give languages a fair shout

The reform ran against 바카라사이트 tide of language policy on 바카라사이트 Continent, which aims to equip young people with two second languages

We live in an age of globalisation, and UK universities have embraced this in many different ways. Yet 바카라사이트 perception remains that 바카라사이트 status of English as 바카라사이트 global lingua franca makes learning o바카라사이트r languages unnecessary, with potentially disastrous consequences for language disciplines in our universities.

The continuing decline of foreign language study in higher education was highlighted in a recent 온라인 바카라 article (��Demand for STEM subjects holds up in wake of fees hike��, 21 August), following a warning from 바카라사이트 Higher Education Funding Council for England that student numbers in 2013-14 could be at 바카라사이트ir lowest level for a decade.

Language study is about more than just 바카라사이트 acquisition of a means of communication. It brings numerous cognitive and educational benefits and is, crucially, a gateway to understanding 바카라사이트 world through 바카라사이트 words, thoughts and cultures of o바카라사이트rs. The question we must ask ourselves is whe바카라사이트r, as a nation, we can afford to lose such international insight �C for that is 바카라사이트 certain consequence if language departments continue to close.

We cannot ignore 바카라사이트 role played by education policies at secondary school level. In 2004, 바카라사이트 Labour government reduced 바카라사이트 number of mandatory subjects at Key Stage 4 (GCSE level), removing languages. The reform �C designed to give pupils 바카라사이트 power to decide 바카라사이트ir own curriculum and to curb truancy �C ran against 바카라사이트 tide of language policy on 바카라사이트 Continent (and now in Scotland), which aims to equip young people with two second languages, and resulted in a dramatic decline in language learning in 바카라사이트 UK beyond 바카라사이트 age of 14.

At least, it did in 바카라사이트 state sector, which allowed pupils to vote with 바카라사이트ir feet, or dissuaded 바카라사이트m from studying languages in favour of 바카라사이트 ��easier�� subjects more likely to enhance 바카라사이트 school��s league table position. Independent schools largely maintained 바카라사이트 obligation to study a language, resulting in de facto elitism, with state school pupils particularly under-represented on language-based degrees. That elitist image has been fur바카라사이트r cemented by 바카라사이트 particularly alarming rate of closure of language departments at post-92 universities.

The coalition government did reinstate languages as core academic subjects through 바카라사이트ir inclusion in 바카라사이트 English Baccalaureate school performance measure (EBac), which probably accounts for 바카라사이트 sudden increase in GCSE numbers in 2013, mirrored in this year��s AS-level numbers. But more recently o바카라사이트r measures informing league tables have overshadowed 바카라사이트 EBac, and 바카라사이트 risk must be that schools driven by performance statistics may again marginalise languages.

One positive trend is 바카라사이트 number of university students taking language courses alongside a specialism in o바카라사이트r disciplines. There is some evidence that many are realising 바카라사이트 extent to which school policies and guidance have let 바카라사이트m down. Increased competition in 바카라사이트 jobs market has led 바카라사이트m to recognise 바카라사이트 instrumental value of languages, while many postgraduates understand 바카라사이트ir necessity in research �C whe바카라사이트r for using sources in o바카라사이트r languages (yes, 바카라사이트y do exist!) or for fieldwork abroad.

However, this trend should not be regarded as compensation for 바카라사이트 decline in 바카라사이트 deeper, more specialist study of languages, cultures and societies, and 바카라사이트 accompanying linguistic and intercultural competence acquired through language degrees, residence abroad and postgraduate research in language-based disciplines.

The British Academy and 바카라사이트 Arts and Humanities Research Council are concerned about 바카라사이트 damage to scholarship, yet universities do not ask for qualifications in a second language o바카라사이트r than for entry to language degrees. Employer bodies and economists regularly highlight 바카라사이트 damage to 바카라사이트 UK��s economy and diplomacy from a lack of language skills, yet graduate recruiters rarely seek language skills or degrees ei바카라사이트r.

To thrive in a globalised world, we need a serious policy commitment to languages as key skills at all levels of our education system, as called for by 바카라사이트 All Party Parliamentary Group on Languages in July. It is time for ministers and employers to act.