Welsh Schools language decline concerns

[Harold F. Schiffman]

Schools language decline concerns

  Colette Hume
BBC Wales education correspondent

Fewer than a quarter of Welsh pupils are leaving school at 16 with a
foreign language qualification - the lowest figure in more than 10 years.
In Wales, 32% of pupils enter modern foreign language exams compared to
68% in England. The Welsh Assembly Government said it was keen to reverse
the decline and is introducing projects to help introduce children to
language learning. But officials said there are no plans to make foreign
languages compulsory.

Modern languages were compulsory in Welsh schools until 1996 when they
became optional subjects. Welsh is currently compulsory up to age 16, but
the assembly government has no plans to add modern European languages to
the list of compulsory subjects. Just 24% of teenagers pass GCSEs in
modern languages at grade C and above. But officials say Education
Minister Jane Davidson is keen to reverse the decline.

A number of projects are under way in Welsh schools to try to help
children learn more languages. At Whitchurch High School, in Cardiff,
French teacher Matt Jones organises language taster days to try to
persuade 14-year-olds to not drop French, German and Spanish when they
choose their GCSE options.

Young age

He has enlisted the help of Germany's representative in Wales, Honorary
Consol Helga Rothka Simmonds to try to encourage the teenagers. In
Twynrodyn Community School, in Merthyr Tydfil, a pilot project, funded by
the Welsh Assembly Government, is helping introduce children to language
at a young age.

Head teacher Michelle Jones is a language specialist who says the pilot is
succeeding with the pupils, who start learning Spanish, French and Italian
from six. She said: "The pupils learn a foreign language alongside their
Welsh. "It's fun - the children enjoy it and the teachers enjoy it. "These
are languages the children can use. When they go on holiday they can order
food and drinks - and when they come back they tell us that they've been
understood - and that's really important to them. "I'd definitely tell
other schools to get involved - there's lots of help out there for
non-specialist teachers."

Nearly 750,000 in funding has been put into projects like the one at
Twynrodyn Primary School. Business organisations have said that while
English is a global language, skills in other languages among Welsh
workers would businesses compete internationally. David Rosser from
employers' organisation the CBI said: "There is no doubt that you'll
always do better if you can speak to your customers in their own language.
"If we are to keep up with leading countries elsewhere then languages are
going to be an important skill for years to come."

He added the world economic picture was changing dramatically and that
schools should now consider offering Mandarin Chinese and Spanish to
students. One area in which there is a growth in language learning in
Wales is the adult sector. Colleges and universities have reported that
record numbers of adults are joining classes.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/wales/4791062.stm