8 Te Modern Family Education & schooling
them, being able to speak another language brings many benefits. A survey by the British Council
revealed that Britain is the worst country in the EU for language learning — while 58% of people across Europe speak at least two
Lost in translation W
e all remember language classes in school, but whether you loved them or loathed
languages, the same can be said for only 38% in Britain. Tis could soon become a problem. As the debate around Brexit
continues and changes are brewing in politics, trade and immigration, having a population that speaks more than one language could become increasingly important. When Brexit finally concludes, people across Europe may be less
Promotional Content • Saturday 21st September 2019
Speaking a foreign language has never been more useful — the challenge lies in persuading the internet-obsessed younger generation not to give up learning them. Words: Jo Wildman
inclined to make their second language English and Britain might have to take up the language-learning mantle — but this needs to start now. Encouraging young people to study
languages in school may be crucial to future international relations.
Education and enjoyment A 2019 British Council report revealed a 19% reduction in entries for GCSE language exams, while the number of students studying a language at university has fallen by 54% in the past decade. With languages often considered
to be difficult subjects to get top grades in at GCSE and A-level, and with mobile phones providing easy access to translation, the effort of learning a second language might not seem as worthwhile to young people as it once was. “We need to rejuvenate language
learning in Britain, and remember that being part of an international community, being able to communicate with people from other nations, matters,” says Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. New teaching methods are
Getty
already being introduced, including interactive technology and YouTube lessons. Other positive changes
Getty
include Mandarin and Russian being added to the syllabus and now, since it’s one of the most widely spoken languages across the world, Spanish is the second-most taught.
Beyond education Most children in Britain don’t start language learning until they’re 11, late in comparison to many countries, but a recent study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found teaching youngsters languages until the age of 17 is worthwhile. However, to end up speaking a language like a native, you really need to start learning it before the age of 10.
If you feel it’s important your child
learns to speak a second language — and you aren’t a bilingual household already — you may want to enrol them in classes outside of school or try to learn together at home. In addition to school education, a
holistic approach is key to embedding skills and supporting a child’s interest. Reading books in Spanish, for example, listening to French songs, translating shopping lists into Mandarin — any small daily task in another language builds bilingualism and even a few words of a language can be the gateway to exploring and understanding new cultures.
Experience Millfi eld Prep at our Open Day on Saturday 5 October
Academic, Art and Sport Scholarships are available
millfi
eldschool.com/opendays
“ It would be hard to fi nd a child who would not enjoy Millfi eld Prep.” – The Good Schools Guide
Millfield
Prep_Ad_Gaurdian_265x157_Final.indd 1 20/08/2019 10:19
Full and fl exi boarding available from age 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
