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
Issue link: https://thelinguist.uberflip.com/i/832824
FEATURES perhaps the greatest challenge that we face for the future. I am often asked which is the 'best' language to learn, both by students and parents; I believe the choice should rest on interest, availability and cultural factors. The xenophobic outpouring that we have seen since the Brexit vote is, for me, a real cause for concern and heightens the need to learn another language: any language. Learning a language is a gateway to learning about other cultures and seeing the world through a different set of filters. How can we achieve lasting peace and understanding in the world, let alone on our own doorstep, without learning about other cultures? This is why I believe it is important for all of us living here in the UK, whether British-born or not, to promote languages. It will help to provide us with a peaceful place to live. The prosperity of the country will be enhanced by our willingness to understand and to communicate with other cultures. Our young people will be willing to discover new places, and try new things to broaden their minds. A leadership model Keeping pace with the changes in our world today will require leadership. Whether you are British-born, this is your adopted country or you are here temporarily, this affects your quality of life. What does this look like and what can we all do as individuals? There is a leadership model that I use to understand what leadership is all about and to inform me how I can improve my own leadership. This model was put together not by interviewing people who are leaders, but by interviewing those who work for people recognised as leaders. If I asked you to create a list of the characteristics of a good leader, perhaps people you admire yourselves, I would get a very long list, but this can be distilled into five key elements: vision, values, people, nurturing and overview. Vision. Characteristics in this section include: knows what they want/where they are going; has a vision for the department/organisation/ company; has a goal; is passionate about their work; inspires and motivates; is courageous and bold. It is not enough just to have a vision; you have to own a vision with a passion. The passion is what sets it alight. If you keep your vision to yourself, then you will never inspire anyone else. Leaders are inspirational because their passion for their goal takes people along with them. If a friend said "come for a drive with me, I'm going to drive around in circles" you might be unlikely to go with them. But if they said there was a most amazing sight in town that would change your life, and they really, really wanted you to come see it, your likelihood of going would rise significantly. Their passion for their subject would take you along with them. I once did a whole project on leadership in schools. I worked with teachers, I worked with students and I worked with parents. It amazed me how many teachers said to me "but I don't want to be a leader". They were there in schools in a position of leadership but not fulfilling their potential as an inspirational leader because they didn't realise how they were role models for the students. I will always remember my own German teacher and how she inspired me. She was English and studied German in Tübingen, and her love for Germany and