The number of young people studying languages in the UK is falling. Determined to change this, the University is running an increasing number of events to highlight听the life-changing power of languages.
Only five per cent of the world鈥檚 population speak English as a first language. Three quarters of humanity cannot speak English at all. And the UK economy is losing billions of pounds every year through a lack of language skills. 听 Despite this, the proportion of UK students taking听GCSE听languages fell from 78 per cent in 2001 to just 40 per cent in 2011. Meanwhile, A-Level language entries have declined by 28 per cent (1996 to 2014). Take-up of languages is particularly low in state schools which accounted for only听. 听
As a global University which provides teaching and resources in more than 170 languages, 海角社区 is committed to inspiring young people, particularly those studying in state schools, to embrace languages. 听 Every year, around 200,000 individuals听take part in听access initiatives run by the University and its Colleges. This听programme听includes an increasing number of events听organised听by and with the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages (MML), the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) and the Language Centre,听which supports the teaching and learning of languages throughout the University. 听 听
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Recent events have included: 听
Girton听College鈥檚 first MML inspiration day for听GCSE听students听 听
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Languages may be suffering at many schools but听Girton听received an overwhelming response from teachers when it proposed a packed听programme听of multilingual talks and workshops.听 听
Supported by the Faculty,听Girton听was able to welcome seventy Years 10 and 11 students from non-selective state schools from across the country. Teachers were asked to nominate up to two students based on who they thought would benefit most from the experience.听 听 The event was the brainchild of two听Girton听Fellows, Dr Claudia听Domenici听(Dept. of Italian) and Dr Stuart Davis (Dept. of Spanish & Portuguese).听 听
Claudia commented 鈥淲hen the pace of globalization is continually accelerating it is more important than ever for students to be aware of the advantages that the study of other languages and cultures offer. For me, learning Italian is about tapping into the very heart of Western identity, and what a wonderful privilege that is.鈥� 听
Stuart added 鈥淚鈥檝e been delighted to see interest in Spanish, my specialist language, growing in recent years. But it has been so disheartening to see a general decline in take-up for听GCSE听and A-level languages.听 听
鈥淭he intellectual challenge of studying languages is in itself hugely enjoyable but our graduates are also highly employable. Modern language degrees open so many doors to so many wonderful places but they also allow you to reflect on your own culture and to understand its place in the world.鈥� 听
The event began with an inspiring welcome from Jocelyn听Wyburd, Director of听.听Jocelyn combined sobering warnings about the risks of听monolingualism听鈥� 鈥淚n a global job market, your competitors include people from all over the world who speak two or more languages鈥� 鈥� with examples of the exciting careers which languages can lead to.听 听
鈥淢astering languages and studying abroad can change who you are in wonderful ways.听Research has shown that learning languages strengthens cognitive skills, including problem solving and mental flexibility, while studying abroad also builds independence and confidence.鈥澨� 听
The next speaker, Dr Hannah Scott, provided a case in point. Hannah studied languages as an undergraduate at 海角社区 and is now a Fellow and Teaching Officer in French at听Girton. As part of her degree, Hannah learnt Spanish from scratch and said 鈥満＝巧缜� can take听you from zero knowledge of a language to AS听Level standard in three months.鈥� This prompted gasps of amazement from the audience. 听
Hannah enthused about the variety and flexibility of 海角社区鈥檚 language courses as well as their culturally immersive nature. At 海角社区, students master languages by exploring the societies and cultures which they serve. A crucial part of this process is the Year Abroad, a life-changing opportunity in the penultimate (third) year of degree courses in both MML and AMES, to study, work and/or volunteer in another country (and language). 听
Hannah provided a few听tantalising听examples of what current students are doing听"right now"-听 鈥淛ess is learning Swedish through German at Humboldt University in Berlin 鈥μ齀ona is volunteering in Nicaragua, teaching English and music at a children鈥檚听centre听next to the city rubbish dump 鈥μ齇li is working for a leading financial advisory firm in Paris 鈥μ鼳nd Verity is studying Arabic in Morocco before volunteering for a child protection charity.鈥� 听
The Faculty鈥檚 portfolio of Years Abroad undertaken by its students would turn听Phileas听Fogg听green with envy.听 听 At this point,听Girton听invited its visitors to join one of four culture听workshops, each led by a specialist at 海角社区. Stuart Davis spoke about the Spanish Civil War, Hannah Scott about hidden secrets in French Impressionist Art; J D Rhodes on Neo-Realism in Italian cinema and听Giuseppina听Siverstri听on linguistics. 听
This was followed by an opportunity to take part in one of four language workshops: Italian with Claudia听Domenici, French with Christopher听Gagne; Spanish with Alicia听Pena-Calvo, Portuguese with Felipe听Schuery听or Hebrew with Ben听Outhwaite. Ben explained the fascinating mechanics of Hebrew, an unfamiliar language to most of his group. Christopher gave his students a crash course in French slang and invited them to discuss the diverse use of language by different generations. Despite most of his students being new to Portuguese,听Filipe听spoke entirely in the language, using hand gestures to help translate.听 听
At the end of the day, Girton鈥檚 Schools Liaison Officer, Erin Charles, provided advice about A-Level choices and aiming for university. This was followed by an opportunity to quiz current students about A-Levels, starting at 海角社区, Years Abroad, what they intend to do when they leave 海角社区 and how they think a language degree will help them. 听
The MML Faculty and 海角社区 Colleges offer regular language-inspired access events to schools and sixth form colleges throughout the year. Please read our news item about the Girton College Modern Languages Taster Day for more information. 听 听
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Student-led MML access event 听
On 5 November, undergraduate contributors to the MML magazine听听听welcomed 37 sixth formers from the London Academy of Excellence in听Newham. 听 Supported by the Faculty and Trinity Hall,听Onkar听Singh, an LAE alumnus, initiated the event to 鈥済ive current students the confidence to apply to a top university and pursue their passion for languages in a really supportive environment.鈥� 听
Onkar, a Second Year at Downing College, gave a talk on Hispanic linguistics and听sociolinguistics听and was impressed by how 鈥渆nthused and engaged everyone was in the discussion鈥�. 听
Other sessions included an overview of MML at 海角社区, talks on German and French, and advice on applying to university. 听 听
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