The Herald Scotland – Staff Writer
“As the world has become more globalised and inter-connected, so the Scottish classroom, in both primary and secondary schools, appears to have shrunk, with the teaching of a foreign language often seen as a non-essential subject and sometimes even an unaffordable luxury. Such an approach to languages may appear to make some sense when English is so widely spoken around the world, and online, but it is mis-guided in two fundamental ways. Firstly, we know that learning a foreign language early in life can give children a learning advantage later in life. Secondly, a working knowledge of languages can make all the difference in commercial and political relationships, with potential benefits for the British economy.”(more)