Blog: European Day of Languages

15th July 2011

To coincide with this year’s European Day of Languages on September 26th, Cirencester-based Translation Agency, Ways With words, is offering careers talks to local schools and colleges, in order to promote foreign language learning in the area and to demonstrate the importance learning foreign languages for UK businesses.

In a recent article in The Times, Baroness Coussins, Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Modern Languages, confirmed that since 2004, studying a foreign language has been optional in over 75% of state schools. Research also suggests that the UK economy could be losing up to £21 billion per year due to a lack of language skills in the workforce.

It was also reported in the media recently that there has been a dramatic decline in pupils in the UK learning foreign languages such as French and German. The number of students taking a language has dropped by a third since the government made languages optional at GCSE level six years ago.

Furthermore, the European Commission and other European institutions have serious problems recruiting enough translators and interpreters with English as their mother tongue, who meet their high standards. In 2007 they filled less than 50% of the available places.

In order to give students thinking about their GCSE options some insight into the careers opportunities available to languages graduates, Ways With Words is offering free presentations throughout the autumn to schools and colleges in the Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol area, with the aim of proving that language learning can lead to a successful, interesting and well-paid career.

At Ways With Words, we have first-hand experience of the ways in which businesses can benefit from employing staff with language skills and we want to encourage students to persevere with language learning.

The European Day of Languages, jointly organised by the Council of Europe and the European Union is celebrated on 26th September. Its general objectives are:

1. Alerting the public to the importance of language learning and diversifying the range of languages learnt in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;

2. Promoting the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe, which must be preserved and fostered;

3. Encouraging lifelong language learning in and out of school, whether for study purposes, for professional needs, for purposes of mobility or for pleasure and exchanges.

Schools and colleges interested in taking up this offer should contact Ways With Words on
0800 321 3604 or by email.