Chartered Institute of Linguists
WINTER 2024 The Linguist 23
FEATURES
Opportunities without borders. School
careers leaders know that languages provide
access to a huge range of careers as well as a
cornucopia of combined degree courses.
What International Relations and Chinese at
LSE, Mechanical Engineering with French at
Sheffield, and Music and German at Cardiff
have in common is the opportunity to spend
a year studying or working abroad. This often
life-changing experience provides students
with confidence, skills and at least one further
job market in which to work.
Baroness Coussins recently explained to
the House of Lords that students who take a
year abroad are more successful. Languages
graduates frequently pivot into law or
banking, where they are sought after for
secondments in international offices. A
revitalised youth mobility scheme is on the
cards, and would provide a welcome boost.
Next steps
Several developments are needed to achieve
a significant and sustainable upturn for
language learning in the UK:
Coordination for greater impact. The remit
of the NCLE should be expanded to embrace
current and new languages initiatives in an
overarching National Languages Strategy,
drawing on the methodology behind the
success of STEM. Approval of a government
premium – to be paid to schools for each
A-level languages student – would make a
huge difference.
Involving big business. Sponsoring the
teaching of an A-level language course
would cost around £12,000 a year. This is
corporate social responsibility with a potential
return on investment, indicating to schools
and pupils that languages are needed and
prized in the job market.
An influencer linguist to inspire learners.
Someone who can inspire the TikTok
generation to learn languages should be
identified. In addition to English, Taylor Swift
speaks Japanese, while Mika speaks French,
Italian and Spanish. Who can we persuade to
champion the power of languages?
Notes
1 https://cutt.ly/FeDpSVID
2 See Collen, I and Duff, J (2024) 'Language
Trends England 2024', British Council,
https://cutt.ly/8eDpJFSg; and 'The Revival of
Language Learning is Key to a Culturally and
Linguistically Rich Future' (2023), British Academy
3 'Education and Learning for the Modern
World: CBI/Pearson Education and Skills Survey
report 2019', https://cutt.ly/8eDpD6uC
4 'Unlocking Success: How language capabilities
can drive your exports growth', CBI,
https://cutt.ly/yeDpFTfo
5 Foreman-Peck, J and Wang, Y (2014) 'The
Costs to the UK of Language Deficiencies as a
Barrier to UK Engagement in Exporting: A
report to UK Trade and Investment'
6 'Towards a National Languages Strategy:
Education and skills' (2020), British Academy,
https://cutt.ly/LeDpJgTd
7 Op. cit. Language Trends 2024, p.35
8 Language Trends England 2023, British
Council, https://cutt.ly/YeDpKcug
9 'New Poll Reveals Overwhelming UK Public
Support for Compulsory Language Learning in
Schools' (2003) British Academy;
https://cutt.ly/OeDpZFS4
10 'A Manifesto for Linguistics in Language
Teaching in the UK Context',
https://cutt.ly/EeDpXk0W
11 https://cutt.ly/OeDpXHkH
Evidence from researchers including Ellen
Bialystok shows that language learning
increases academic success across all
subjects, as memory, attention, reasoning,
problem-solving, inhibitory control and the
ability to sift irrelevant information are
enhanced. Its impact reaches into late
adulthood, staving off dementia, and
includes economic and social benefits. The
Max Planck Institute in Leipzig recently
confirmed that learning a second language
strengthens neural connections in the
brain's left hemisphere. In short, language
learning is good for the brain.
For further information, see:
• 'Cognitive Effects of Bilingualism',
https://cutt.ly/EeDpOEXE
• 'Cognitive Benefits of Language Learning',
British Academy, https://cutt.ly/ZeDpT0Fa
• 'The Impact of Second- and Third-Language
Learning on Language Aptitude and Working
Memory', https://cutt.ly/tandem
• 'Teaching Languages for Long-term Memory',
Open University, https://cutt.ly/TeH3987u
• 'Does Bilingualism Influence Cognitive
Aging?', https://cutt.ly/XeDpAiUv
• 'A Foreign Language is Transforming the
Brain', https://cutt.ly/NeDpP5Rl
Boosting the brain
©
SHUTTERSTOCK
