The question of whether language learning is important is becoming increasingly prevalent in modern society where most problems - including language barriers - can be overcome by technology. However, this reduces language to nothing more than a method of communication, undermining the broader context of languages; they are essential for communication, but more than that, languages open the door to different cultures, from where understanding, empathy and collaboration can develop. As medieval philosopher Richard Bacon stated, ‘knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.’
Plummeting numbers of language learners
In short, engaging with languages demonstrates curiosity in the unknown and a willingness to engage with others. The potential this has on a global scale is hugely exciting, yet not only that, on a more micro-level, languages have been shown to have tremendous benefits on sociability and brain health.
Despite this, language learning in schools and in higher education is consistently falling in the UK, with the proportion of pupils studying modern languages at GCSE level reported to have plummeted from 86 per cent to 46 per cent between the late 1990s and 2020-21. The UK government recently pledged GBP 15million to try and stop this decline, yet many voices have pointed out that this will have little impact without addressing the simultaneous decline in modern foreign language teacher recruitment - at just 34% of target numbers this year.
Why the decline?
A key component of producing engaging language tuition is developing content that is applicable in real life. However, this is difficult to do - even in an institutional set up where there is the traditional teacher-pupil interaction.
Without authentic practice, learning can become formulaic, and far removed from reality - languages are living, changing subjects which depend so heavily on context and register. Hence, it is not uncommon for people to become bored or defeated, thinking that learning a foreign language is beyond them; that apart from a few words to be used on holiday, languages are only for those with a linguistic aptitude, or ‘a good ear’.
