[EDLING:1377] Language Learning Needs “Broader Spectrum” says LSDA

[Francis M. Hult]

Further Education News

http://www.fenews.co.uk/newsview.asp?n=1287

Language Learning Needs “Broader Spectrum” says LSDA

24 March 2006

FE News Language Learning Correspondent Joana Lage Looks at Case Studies on 
Language Learning Report


As part of the programme National Languages (2002) ‘Languages for All: 
Languages for Life’, a new research was conducted by the Learning Skills 
Development Agency (LSDA). The report, ‘Modern Foreign Languages in a 
Vocational Context’, was launched recently and indicates that there is a need 
for a “broader spectrum of language provision” in this area.

The Research Details

The LSDA is an agency that initiates several research projects every year with 
the aim of recognizing the failures and success stories in the education 
sector. After the acknowledgement made by the research reports, it is then 
possible to reform and improve the quality of post-16 education and training 
in the United Kingdom. The ‘Modern Foreign Languages in a Vocational Context’ 
research examined the process of languages’ education in the vocational sector 
and especially looked at its provision in terms of quantity and also quality.

There were 131 replies to questionnaires received from colleges and work-based 
learning providers. Furthermore, several case studies were carried out to 
analyse in detail and find out how languages are being integrated into the 
vocational courses. The places used for case studies were the following: 
Barnfield College, Bedforshire; Newham Sixth Form College, East London; 
Newcastle-under-Lyme College, Staffordshire; and ITS Training Services, 
Felixstowe, Suffolk.

The Colleges and Training Services Answers

The languages education process faces several hold-ups everyday, in various 
areas. There are many factors that do not encourage an easy learning of 
foreign languages and the understanding and acceptance of the importance of 
languages in our world. A central problem has always been the teaching; there 
is a need for new and more effective methods so that the end results will be 
positive.

The Newham Sixth Form College introduced a new tactic: every year they hold a 
European languages conference where students can meet professionals, who then 
explain the everyday use of languages and its usefulness in their jobs. 
Furthermore, this college runs classes with languages, such as Spanish, 
French, Mandarin, Urdu, Arabic and Bengali which offers a wide variety and is 
then easier to please the diverse interests of their students.

The Newcastle-under-Lyme College also has a different promotion of languages; 
they show a video, which explains how local companies that have branches all 
over the world, demand staff with language skills. In an era of globalization 
and an international business market, it is essential that more and more 
people can master many languages to be able to have higher employment 
possibilities.

Languages Online

Barnfield College runs a course for IT practitioners, which has Spanish as a 
compulsory module. This strategy raises the students’ chances of finding a job 
and their abilities to compete in an international market, where a lot of call 
centres are based abroad and consequently the recruitment need for people with 
language skills is high. Mastering languages is then opening new ‘doors’ for 
their futures. In the area of shipping there is a general lack of staff with 
language proficiencies which can lead to misunderstandings and confusion 
between employers, employees and even the customers.

The ITS Training Service in Suffolk admit it is essential to be able to speak 
languages, especially in the shipping business, but the school is facing 
several obstacles in the teaching of languages. There is a shortage of time 
within the training programme to include language classes and also adapting 
the teaching to the specific needs of each individual.

Nevertheless, the company is taking new actions to overtake these problems. 
They have developed a new foundation programme which integrates modern foreign 
languages, such as Spanish, French, German, Italian and also Bulgarian, as 
component modules. These are the languages that employers are most likely to 
demand for the reason that nowadays a lot of businesses are conducted with 
European and overseas clients.

Case Studies Proving the Point

The research in each of the schools confirmed and reinforced the idea that the 
main factor to the success of languages teaching and learning is motivation 
and inspiration. Each school has different strategies, such as the diverse and 
innovative teaching methods and creative promotion of languages, and they all 
demonstrate to the students the use, practicality and benefits of mastering 
foreign languages.

In general, the report ‘Modern Foreign Languages in a Vocational Context’ 
demonstrates how it is possible to change the present scenario and raise and 
dignify the status of language education in the United Kingdom.

Joana Lage, Language Skills Correspondent