UK: Saying Britons 'don't do' languages is a fallacy

[Francis Hult]

Guardian

 

Saying Britons 'don't do' languages is a fallacy

 

Here in Britain we are constantly being told that we are hopeless at foreign languages. Just last week there were reports that British companies are ignoring home-grown graduates for positions that require foreign language skills, and that European companies setting up in Britain have complained to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office about the lack of British graduates with strong language skills.

 

When employers talk about the strong foreign language skills of our European neighbours, what they mean are strong English language skills. Of course, the German, French, Spanish and Dutch companies who complained to the FCO can find bilingual specialists in their own country - they have all learnt English from an early age.

 

Full story:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/13/britons-languages-learning

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