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By Jacqueline Grima
Photography: Adrian Pope

According to a recent survey, over half of the North West public believe that the opportunity for children to learn a second language is vital, with 67% of people surveyed believing that there is currently not enough encouragement of language learning in schools. To address this issue, teachers and educators from across the North West recently gathered at Manchester Metropolitan University to celebrate International Education Week with an event entitled ‘Make Time For Languages’. The event was hosted by the British Council alongside Manchester Met’s Department of Languages, Information and Communication.

In the wake of the EU Referendum results, it seems more important than ever that for Britain to maintain positive relationships with other countries and it is the acquisition of a second language that will help future generations to continue strong trade and political relationships. However, language uptake in British schools is currently low compared to other subjects, with the number of students taking language subjects at GCSE and A Level having dropped. Schools Adviser at the British Council Vicky Gough says, “As the UK comes to reposition itself on the world stage, language skills matter now more than ever. And with the country already facing a languages shortfall, we must do everything we can to encourage more people to acquire these vital skills.”

At the Manchester Met event, Head of Languages, Information and Communications Dr Derek Bousfield also stressed the importance of language learning, explaining how languages benefit young lives. He said, “Tonight, we are celebrating International Education Week with our current generation of language learners and future leaders of language teaching. Learning a language greatly decreases the onset of Alzheimer’s; it guarantees and extends your identity.”

UK Regional Director of the British Council Rob Lynes praised the efforts of the teachers who enable language learning in the North West. He said, “Teachers and educators have the most important job in the world. We live in quite extraordinary times, and it’s never been more important to learn a language in order to give young people hope and not despair. We need to inspire young people to explore the world, to open the door to other countries and cultures.”

Rob also talked about how the British Council can aid language learners by providing access to a vast variety of learning aids and language related opportunities. He said, “The British Council vision is to give every young person in the UK an international experience by the age of the 26.” Indeed, the Council believes that, just by learning one phrase a day of another language, learners can experience great success and that learning 1000 words of another language would enable a learner to hold a conversation.

Staff and pupils from seventy schools from across the region attended the event. The stars of the evening were the pupils from Abraham Moss Community School who were awarded the TES International Schools Award in July. Pupils from the school come from as far away as Somalia, the Czech Republic and Italy, the event emphasising the importance of the many languages that currently co-exist in our diverse communities. Head Teacher Gill Houghton said, “We turn no child away, we celebrate diversity. Every child who speaks English as an additional language is an asset to the school.”

She added, “We are in dangerous times; if we set glass ceilings for young people then we are on a slippery slope.”

One pupil from the school stressed the importance of language learning for young people, saying, “We have a very bright future. We are the current generation of language learners and future leaders of language teaching.”

The event also formed part of the Council’s #LearnALanguage campaign which aims to encourage language learning and inspire confidence. For more information about the opportunities available for young people in language learning, visit the British Council website.