Blog: Language Learning Still in Decline

21st September 2011

According to CILT, the National Centre for Languages, recent GCSE results reveal an uphill struggle in reversing the decline in language learning in UK secondary schools. Total entries dropped by 11% this year and accounted for just 6% of all GCSE entries, compared with 10% in 2000.

French and German have suffered most from the decline in recent years, whereas Spanish, Arabic and Chinese have increased in popularity. This year, however, all languages joined in with the general decline with the exception of Modern Hebrew, which according to CILT saw 12 extra students taking the GCSE exam.

Since languages were made optional in secondary schools in 2004, the declines in language learning have been due to the wide range of option choices for students, together with the perception that languages are a “difficult” subject – although most students seem to manage “talking” without too many problems. Also highlighted was the fact that lesson time for languages has been reduced.

Even in Further Education institutions, lesson time is being cut. For example, the Italian course held at Cirencester College no longer takes place thanks to lesson time being cut by 25% with prices remaining the same. The number of participants fell from 15 to 4, which meant the course couldn’t continue.

The figures published by CILT show the extent of the gap which needs to be closed and is a major concern for the government, which wants to see the country exporting its way out of trouble.

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