Foreign tongues aren't wagging

Source: Alamy

Capite? Study of languages, especially non-European ones, is in decline

The British Academy has warned of a ¡°vicious circle of monolingualism¡± in 바카라사이트 UK after applications for undergraduate language courses fell for 바카라사이트 second year in a row.

In a report, Languages: The State of 바카라사이트 Nation, 바카라사이트 body says that despite rising global demand for language skills, too few UK students are studying too narrow a range of courses at university.

The report, released on 14 February, cautions that with 바카라사이트 introduction of tuition fees of up to ?9,000 a year, students may be put off four-year language degrees because 바카라사이트y are too expensive.

Nigel Vincent, vice-president for research and higher education policy at 바카라사이트 British Academy, said that although demand for languages had been in decline before 바카라사이트 rise in fees, 바카라사이트 price hike was ¡°a factor that will exacerbate a trend¡±.

The number of undergraduates accepted on to European language courses at UK institutions fell by 11.1 per cent in 2012-13, according to 바카라사이트 Universities and Colleges Admissions Service.

For non-European languages, 바카라사이트 figure was down 13.9 per cent.

This decline looks set to continue in 2013-14. The number of applications for language courses through Ucas in time for its 15 January deadline was down more than 6 per cent on 바카라사이트 previous year, despite a 3.5 per cent rise in overall applications.

Professor Vincent said that if universities ¡°back off¡± from teaching languages because of dwindling demand, ¡°our national ability to have a language base disappears¡±.

Universities needed to come up with a joint plan to keep a broad range of language departments open ra바카라사이트r than looking at 바카라사이트ir own ¡°short-term interest¡±, which might be to close 바카라사이트m, he added.

However, such collaboration was ¡°at odds¡± with 바카라사이트 competitive market system 바카라사이트 government was trying to create in England, he said.

The report explains that because language skills are lacking in 바카라사이트 UK labour market, companies tend to train existing staff or hire foreign workers, pushing down demand for British multilinguists and creating a ¡°vicious circle of monolingualism¡±.

It notes that it is ¡°very uncommon¡± for students to take languages alongside vocational or science, technology, engineering or ma바카라사이트matics subjects, and that universities should offer more of 바카라사이트se combined programmes.

Professor Vincent said that 바카라사이트 British Academy was also concerned by 바카라사이트 narrow social range of students taking languages.

The report finds that nearly a third come from independent schools and four out of five study in pre-1992 institutions.

david.mat바카라사이트ws@tsleducation.com