Languages in the News
For ease of reference news items are grouped according to sector. They include any national, regional and local news items of relevance.
The most recent news are listed at the top.
Business
Immediate Translation Service for Mobile and PC
Together with Language2Office we have created a portable, easily accessible translation system to help welcome visitors to Liverpool 08
With a wide range of terms including expression phrases for
- Emergencies
- Greetings
- Directions
- Means of Transport
- Numbers and Time
We have brought conversation in English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Chinese and Japanese to your fingertips
On the move?
Simply enter www.language2office.com/LIV08.htm into the browser on your web-enabled mobile - or go to the page on your pc's browser and select ‘File/Send/Link by E-mail’ to send to your mobile’s email address
(Please note your mobile needs to be enabled to view Chinese and Japanese scripts)
Regional Language Network North West have developed these terms and worked with Language2Office to provide this system free throughout 2008.
On your PC?
Just click on the L2O logo to search for phrases
If you would like to find our more about Language2Office systems and products, please visit www.language2office.com
Language Podcasts and much more...
You can now access free information on over 20 countries..
Together with our national partners, we offer you:
Podcasts - get an insight into the culture and business etiquette of key international markets, find out how others have developed business overseas and learn some basic words and phrases to help you get by.
Cultural briefings - a downloadable pdf that gives you an overview of cultural and business etiquette.
Talk the Talk - a downloadable pdf to help you learn those handy words and phrases.
To benefit from free and unlimited access to our resource area,
register now
Recognition of the value of languages
The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) has made specific reference to
languages in two of the four priorities in its Annual Statement. The
priorities set the focus for the organisation's work and investment in
2007/08.
The first priority is concerned with raising the quality and choice of
learning opportunities for all young people. Language skills are
recognised as an important asset to employers to improve their global
competitiveness and providers are key to stimulating demand and
revitalising the curriculum to reverse the decline in student numbers.
Priority two aims to raise the skill base of the nation. Language
capabilities for all will be addressed with support from the LSC for the
virtual languages academy.
To download the Statement of Skills Priorities for the North West, visit
LSC NW
Education
The Canning House Essay Competition 2009
The 3rd Canning House Essay Competition will be running this autumn. The title of the essay, between 750 and 1,000 words long, to be written in Portuguese or Spanish, is "The Latin American I most admire". The competition is open to all students in the United Kingdom aged between 17 and 19 years on 31st December 2008. For more information please visit www.canninghouse.com <http://www.canninghouse.com/content/culture/schools/competition2009>
A Level Results
UK A level results published 14th August 2008 show that take up of languages at A level remains stable, with a high proportion of pupils continuing to achieve top grades relative to other subjects. Students taking A level languages this year were amongst the highest achievers of all entrants, with higher proportions of pupils gaining A grades than in most other subjects. A grades were achieved by 37.3% of applicants in French, 38.4% in German and 38.7% in Spanish. In other modern languages the percentage of high achievers was particularly high, with 48.7% of entrants gaining A grades. Teresa Tinsley, Director of Communications at CILT, the National Centre for Languages said: ‘This evidence shows that the UK is producing high performing linguists who, if they continue their languages through to university, are likely to be in high demand in the job market. However, languages ought not to be just for our most talented linguists, and we need to encourage more students to continue with a language, even if they don’t feel they can aspire to a top grade.’ Today’s results confirm that a far greater percentage of girls than boys take A levels in French (68.6% female, 31.4% male) and Spanish (66.7% female, 33.3% male). In German the gender split is less extreme, with 60.4% female and 39.6% male candidates, while in other modern languages the proportion of male to female was significantly more even, with 57% female candidates compared to 43% male candidates. French remains the most popular language taken at A level, with more than twice the number of applicants sitting exams in French as in Spanish, the second most commonly taken language. The number of applicants was up this year by 2.8% in French and 1.5% in Spanish, while numbers in German were down by 0.9%. Other languages, including Arabic, Chinese and Russian, have shown steady increases in entry every year since 2002. As today’s figures include results from maintained schools, independent schools and higher and adult education, it would be misleading to draw firm conclusions from them about what is happening in state secondary schools. A more detailed breakdown of school figures will be published by the DCSF in due course.
<http://www.cilt.org.uk/>
High Level Skills Consultation
The Minister of State for Higher Education, Bill Rammell, launched a consultation to build stronger links between business and universities.
The High Level Skills consultation aims to gather the views of employers, students, colleges and universities on how to raise the skills of those already in work and also ensure graduates have the ability to help businesses compete on a global market.
Read more
CILT is launching The Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs). This is a video-making competition aimed at 13-21 year olds to get them thinking about the reasons for learning a language...
Read more
Only 17% of secondary schools have so far acted on the Government's requirement to set a benchmark for participation in language learning after fourteen. Over half of secondary schools now have fewer than 50% of pupils continuing with a language in Key Stage 4, and those with the lowest take-up are the most reluctant to set targets to improve.
Read more
Public sector
McInally Cup 2006 - North West Winner
The Chartered Institute of Linguists (IoL) Educational Trust was recently donated a prize by Mrs Jan
Cambridge. This prize, called the McInally Cup for Innovation and
Leadership in Interpreting, attracted a number of very worthy
nominations. A small committee was formed to discuss these and it was
decided that the McInally Cup 2006 should be awarded to Mr Mahtarr
Samba, Area Diversity Manager for HM Prison Service for his innovative
and varied work raising the profile of the interpreting profession
within the Prison Service.
The Regional Language Network NW would like to join the IoL in congratulating Mr Samba.
To visit the IoL website click here
Other news
Funding for English classes to be retargeted to aid integration
Public funding for English language teaching should be targeted where it will have the biggest impact on community cohesion and integration, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills John Denham announced...
To read full article, click here
News section at CILT
Find out the latest developments in the world of languages.
This link will take you to the news area of the CILT website, where you can find out about languages in the news as well as the latest developments at CILT, the National Centre for Languages and its Regional Language Networks.
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