THE Higher Education Funding Council for England has ordered a review of language teaching in universities. It will consider the impact of recent government policies and investment in the area. The report is due to be completed this month and published later in the autumn, according to the Guardian.
UK universities are being forced to abandon the teaching of pure languages after the government dropped mandatory lessons in secondary schools, the head of Universities UK warned at its annual conference. They are dropping pure language degrees to do “language and culture” alternatives, with less time dedicated to developing language fluency and mastering speaking skills.
A-level and GCSE results released in August revealed another drop in the proportion of students interested in language subjects, French and German in particular. It follows the government’s decision in 2004 to drop compulsory languages at GCSE. Ministers have promised to improve language learning in primary schools instead, but the scheme has been slow to take off.
