Shef News – Nelson Walker
“Learning foreign languages does not need to be reduced to cramming French verb conjugations, German articles and passing exams. They can be immense tools to enhance our lives. Yet, language learning is in a deeply precarious moment in the UK. In 2019, the BBC reported that foreign language learning was at its lowest level in UK secondary schools since the turn of the millennium. In the same year, the British Academy reported: “The UK is currently nowhere near to fulfilling its linguistic potential. The global nature of English does not make up for that underperformance, which is worsening each year.” The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages has also stated: “The UK’s language deficit is holding us back economically, socially and culturally. We need to reverse this. The UK is in a languages crisis.” ” (more)