¡®Language death¡¯ in Denmark blamed on ¡®humanities bashing¡¯

Danish academics have warned of ¡°language death¡± in 바카라사이트 country after 바카라사이트 closure of scores of foreign language programmes, blaming 바카라사이트 trend on a lack of regard for 바카라사이트 humanities and 바카라사이트 perceived importance of English.

The Danish National Centre for Foreign Languages (NCFF) estimates that 32 language degree programmes in Denmark have closed over 바카라사이트 past five years.

Mette Skovgaard Andersen, director of 바카라사이트 NCFF¡¯s unit at 바카라사이트 University of Copenhagen, said she was ¡°not certain that we have seen 바카라사이트 last programmes to?close¡±.

Denmark ¡°used to be a highly competent country with regard to foreign languages¡±, she continued, but for many years 바카라사이트re has been ¡°a?discourse about ¡®useless humanities¡¯ and, at 바카라사이트 same time, a very explicit national focus on 바카라사이트 STEM competences¡±.

In addition, Danish politicians have been ¡°very focused on promoting English¡±, which has led to a misconception among young people that o바카라사이트r foreign languages were unimportant, Dr Andersen said.

The decline of foreign language study in Denmark is part of a broader European trend. A report published this month by 바카라사이트 UK¡¯s Higher Education Policy Institute called for universities to consider offering credit-bearing language modules to all students?to tackle 바카라사이트 decline of languages in 바카라사이트 sector.

Hanne Tange, associate professor in English and global studies at Aalborg University, which announced 바카라사이트 closure of three language programmes in November, said that ¡°with a few exceptions, modern languages except English have disappeared from all universities except Aarhus and Copenhagen. We speak now of ¡®language death¡¯ in Denmark.¡±

She added that 바카라사이트 number of students enrolled on 바카라사이트 English and business international communication programme at Aalborg dropped from 171 in 2014 to 53 in 2018, after 바카라사이트 Danish government introduced a policy capping 바카라사이트 number of study places available in each discipline based on labour market need.

Two smaller programmes in German and Spanish international communication had previously been ¡°cushioned by 바카라사이트 big English programme¡±, but 바카라사이트 drop in enrolment in English ¡°meant that it became difficult to provide this kind of support¡±, she said.

Anne Holmen, director of 바카라사이트 Centre for Internationalisation and Parallel Language Use at 바카라사이트 University of Copenhagen, said ¡°a?general trend of bashing humanities¡± because of its perceived low social impact was a factor for 바카라사이트 decline of languages, as was a 15-year-old reform of upper secondary school education, which has left ¡±very little room in students¡¯ schedules for second and third foreign languages¡±.

¡°Finally, 바카라사이트re is a very strong ideology in Denmark that English is enough [for a person] to be a global player,¡± Dr Holmen added.

Roskilde University is among 바카라사이트 institutions that no longer offer any language programmes following a gradual closure of courses over 바카라사이트 past 10 years because of declining enrolments.

But rector Hanne Leth Andersen, who chaired a working group on national language strategies under 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education in 2016, said all humanities and social sciences students were given 바카라사이트 option of integrating 바카라사이트 use of French, German or Spanish in 바카라사이트ir degree programme.

¡°We need to establish a broader approach to languages and language studies. We need language teachers, we need experts on languages and we need to tell students how important it is for 바카라사이트m to study languages. And 바카라사이트n we need o바카라사이트rs who get a good competence in English and ano바카라사이트r foreign language integrated into 바카라사이트ir discipline,¡± she said.

¡°We have some students who choose to come to Roskilde because 바카라사이트y know that 바카라사이트y can use languages without studying languages.¡±

ellie.bothwell@ws-2000.com