The Guardian – Jo Griffin
“As a nation of proud monoglots, we’ve never much minded that foreign language study has been declining in the UK for years – even though our lack of languages is estimated to cost the economy around £48bn a year…So the potentially damaging impact of Brexit on learning, teaching and using modern foreign languages in the UK is unlikely to cause many sleepless nights. However, for those of us who have studied French, Spanish, German and other languages, used them at work abroad – and in the UK – and whose lives have been enriched immeasurably by being able to access other cultures and perspectives via another language, the risk of these opportunities shrinking further for us and our children in a post-Brexit Britain is not just depressing but downright scary…Studying or speaking a foreign language is necessarily a humbling experience, forcing the speaker to listen and adapt their perspective, chipping away at those philosophical or political certainties that can be limiting, removing barriers and nurturing curiosity. Moreover, in our globalized world, it is a more essential skill than ever, not just for economic success but all trade and negotiation…As Europe has grown closer over the past 20 or so years, so a European sensibility has emerged. This is not just a liking for cheap mini-breaks or familiarity with the menu in an Italian restaurant, but an active engagement with different perspectives and cultures that is rooted in understanding others’ languages. For many educated Europeans, this is simply taken for granted. For many Britons who share this sensibility, Brexit threatens a retreat to a narrow, monoglot world view…”(more)