Cactus Contributes to the Campaign for more Foreign Language Learning in Secondary Schools
Wednesday, 28th January 2009
“Ohayo gozaimasu” is not the usual greeting you’d expect to hear echoing the corridors at a rural secondary school in East Sussex, but last week students at Uplands Community College were treated to a Japanese language taster session as part of a year 9 languages day.
In early January 2009, the Guardian reported that just 30% of students leave secondary school with a good GCSE grade in a modern language. The article also suggested that the study of languages beyond the age of 14 is becoming a privilege of just a small number of students, mainly in the non-state sector.
Uplands is one example of a state school encouraging and enthusing its students to study a language by hosting special language days such as the one Alex Wolfson, Language Travel Consultant and Head of Groups at Cactus, was invited to speak at recently.
The students heard from a range of speakers spanning a variety of professions about how they use languages in their jobs, including a Sergeant from the army, an Italian chef and representatives from Brighton University, Kimberly Clark, Talking Hands (British Sign Language) and The London Bridge Experience.
As well as Alex talking about why he loves languages and how learning them can open doors for future employment, the students also experienced a Japanese taster class, learning a few helpful phrases from Rinko, one of Cactus’ teachers.
From our experience at schools such as Uplands, students at state schools are interested in languages and learning about the employment and travel opportunities they can bring. With the 2012 Olympics set to bring athletes and spectators from all over the world to London, with a range of languages and cultures represented, language skills will prove vital. It is now more important than ever for teachers and parents to encourage their students or children to take up languages, to make the most of both employment and social opportunities open to them.
Tags: french, spanish, german, languages, japanese, schools, education
Posted by Laura Harrison under Blogs, In the news,
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