The Linguist is a languages magazine for professional linguists, translators, interpreters, language professionals, language teachers, trainers, students and academics with articles on translation, interpreting, business, government, technology
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Vol/53 No/3 2014 JUNE/JULY The Linguist 5 The 2013/14 Language Trends report was launched at the Language World conference in April. The annual survey of primary and secondary language teachers in England showed that the EBacc is continuing to have a positive impact on the take-up of languages at Key Stage 4 (KS4), with half of state schools reporting a rise. However, nearly a third of secondary schools did not offer a language to all KS4 students who wish to take one. Encouragingly, 95% of primary schools were teaching a language and 42% already met the requirements of the new National Curriculum. However, the gulf between primary and secondary schools continues to be a significant problem, and half of primaries say they have Primary languages gap widens Military-style test for all? Details of a test used by the US military to determine potential students' aptitude for language learning have been released, prompting speculation that it could soon be offered to the general public. The High Level Language Aptitude Battery (Hi-LAB) has been used by US defence schools since 2012. Unlike other aptitude tests, which concentrate on short-term abilities, the Hi-LAB aims to predict a person's capacity to learn languages to a high level. It was developed at the University of Maryland's Center for the Advanced Study of Language, funded by the US Department of Defense. The latest from the languages world A new language centre for the UK armed forces opens in Oxfordshire In defence The Ministry of Defence has relocated its language training capability, long-known as the Defence School of Languages (DSL), from Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire to the Defence Academy's main campus at Shrivenham. The Defence Centre for Languages and Culture (DCLC), a new state- of-the-art facility, was opened on 8 April by Prince Michael of Kent, a DSL alumnus and CIOL Royal Patron. NEWS & EDITORIAL A national week of celebration has been launched to encourage young people to learn languages. An extension of the European Day of Languages, Inspiring Languages Week will see hundreds of volunteers, who use languages in their job, go into schools to raise awareness about how languages skills can impact on students' job prospects. Part of the Inspiring the Future programme, the initiative is free for state schools and is supported by the Education and Employers' Taskforce (EET) and the British Council. The EET has a network of employers ready to go into secondary schools to inspire pupils, and Inspiring the Future is working to boost the number of linguists involved. Inspiring Languages Week is 22-26 September. For details, to get involved or to find a speaker, see www.inspiringthefuture.org. • There is still time for UK school and university students to enter the Strictly 1000 Words competition. Schools have until 11 July to submit a 2-3 minute video that uses up to 1,000 words to celebrate language and culture in some way. Run by Speak to the Future and the Language Show Live, the contest offers winners the chance to perform at the show on 18 October at Olympia Central, London. See www.languageshowlive.co.uk for details. no contact with their local secondary. Many secondary schools remain dubious about the consistency and quality of the language teaching their Year 7s have received. Perhaps the most alarming finding is the rate at which A-level languages are declining. This is particularly evident in the independent sector, which has traditionally provided a high number of linguists for university degree courses. Here, 43% of schools report a decline in A-level languages due to harsh and unpredictable grading. Language Trends 2013/14 was jointly commissioned by the British Council and CfBT Education Trust. To download a free copy, visit www.britishcouncil.org/education/schools. Shrivenham is a core education site for the UK's three armed forces, where mainstream command and leadership training takes place. Language training is largely residential, although some requirements are met through peripatetic arrangements, such as distance learning and via other government departments, notably the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. For details see http://defenceacademy.mod.uk/. A week of celebration