The Linguist

that the current funding rules are pushing higher education (HE) institutions to make difficult choices in provision and that this is not always conducive to a strategic, nationwide approach to languages provision. Evidence from Becky Muradas-Taylor for the University Council for Modern Languages (UCML) shows how cuts have led to 'cold spots' in HE languages provision around the country – often in less affluent areas. At the same time, she showed that targeted support in just a handful of institutions could address a large part of this geographic shortage. Research also suggests that post-1992 institutions are much more likely to be reducing languages provision compared to Russell Group universities. This means that many students are essentially excluded from the possibility of studying a language, irrespective of geography. The overall policy and funding environment shaping university languages provision is complex, but the APPG will be happy to support the key organisations in making the case for a more strategic approach. WINTER 2024 The Linguist 7 Chartered Institute of Linguists NEWS & EDITORIAL In the media In the media PHILIP HARDING-ESCH This summer's GCSE and A level results contained some better news for UK languages, reversing what The Times called a "twenty year decline". More students took a language GCSE than in 2023, with French up 2.9% and Spanish up 6.2%. German entries went up 3.5% after years of steady decline, perhaps reflecting the support available to schools through the Goethe-Institut's GIMAGINE programme, part of the DfE-funded National Consortium for Languages Education. However, commentators pointed out that these are relatively modest increases. For example, despite this year's uptick, entries for German are still below 2022 figures. At A level, French and Spanish were among the 10 subjects with the biggest growth (+8.2% and +2.6% respectively). The press also picked up on the Welsh Government-funded Modern Foreign Languages Mentoring programme, led by Cardiff University, which pairs pupils with university student mentors. There has been a 40% increase in mentored learners choosing a language GCSE. The scheme now operates in 80% of Welsh secondary schools and all Welsh universities take part. BBC News's reporting on Wales continued with the news that the introduction of the new BSL GCSE has been scrapped, a decision campaigners describe as "devastating". Welsh teaching unions are also concerned about plans to increase Welsh language provision in schools during an ongoing staffing and recruitment crisis. An interesting piece in The Local reported on rules allowing doctors in Denmark to bill patients for interpreting services in consultations conducted in a language other than Danish – even in English, despite the "high level of English proficiency in Denmark". "I was horrified to be told, when I needed to see a specialist, that I would need to pay an interpreter for the consultation to be held in English," said one English-speaking resident. Philip Harding-Esch is a freelance languages project manager and consultant. Philip Harding-Esch reports on changes to the cross-party group after the general election The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Modern Languages officially re-formed in the new Parliament in September. Dame Nia Griffith MP relinquished her role as chair as she is now a Minister, and the group formally thanked her for her work as Chair since 2019. The new chair, Tonia Antoniazzi, is a languages graduate and the Labour MP for Gower in Wales. As a former head of languages at Bryngwyn Comprehensive School in Llanelli, she is very interested in issues affecting languages education in schools. The founder and former Chair of the group, Baroness Coussins, is co-Chair. As CIOL Vice-President and a crossbench peer, she remains as committed as ever to keeping languages on the policy agenda in Parliament. The APPG Vice Chairs are the Conservative peer Lord Sherbourne of Didsbury and Darren Paffey, the newly elected Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, who was Associate Professor of Spanish and Linguistics at the University of Southampton before his election. The APPG will be working to recruit members from among the new intake of MPs and peers. The group has had one urgent meeting already, looking at funding for languages degrees in universities, and parallels with wider issues facing the humanities. Vivienne Stern, CEO of Universities UK, told the APPG Inside Parliament Philip Harding-Esch works on behalf of CIOL to provide the secretariat to the APPG on Modern Languages. TL © PEXELS

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