Modern Languages Blog

  Congres Frans begins 
  Originally uploaded by Edublogger.

The message is loud and clear: Holland’s issues with language learning are more similar to Scotland and England’s problems than we might think. The Dutch have a reputation as being language learners extraordinaire but there is still, says our opening speaker, too much emphasis on the Anglo-American in our ‘Western World’ (what is the West nowadays, anyway?)

It sounds as if, perhaps like at home, learners don’t always see the point in learning French and other non-English languages. There is a lack of motivation to learn something which, in an age when school tends to value what is useful in a rather narrow way, is the first to go when put alongside the sciences, media and social studies. And in Holland, fewer and fewer are choosing French, despite it often being the language that makes the difference, the language that made Scotland great during the Enlightenment and continues to make a difference in the world of politics, decision-making and international affairs.

I’m happy with the opening speech since my talk this afternoon shows how languages are really at the centre of creativity and multimedia work, if we choose to make them so. But it’s not good enough to have one or two individuals making strides to use multimedia, social media and other creative tools with their learners. It needs to be a united front, a global effort on the part of all language teachers, to make a dent in this world which, rightly or (probably more likely) wrongly, places too much value on English as a lingua franca.

That’s where tomorrow’s talk on how teachers can get themselves together will fit in. Using technology with learners is great, but it’s seen as ‘fun’, motivating icing on the cake. Let’s show them that social technology can unite those individual great teachers like nothing before, and amplify their practice.

Chapeau pour le français!

  Noordwijkerhout 
  Originally uploaded by Apotheker.

It’s been a beautiful evening and it looks like the good weather will continue today for the opening of Congres Frans, Holland’s national languages conference at which I’ve been asked to deliver two keynotes.

The first is in the afternoon today, 10 Façons Pour Rester Brancher Sans Perdre La Tête, with around 300 of the 350 pre-registered conference-goers signed up to come along. It’s great, a lot more than sign up in Scottish conferences for similar talks. It’s a good sign.

But this, you see, is where the problems begin. I have to do two talks, which I’ve been at best a little nervous doing in English, but do them completely in French. It’s made even worse since, wanting to double check which talk was when, I discovered only Dutch descriptors, the titles of which seem not to match up completely (”Bijblijvin” for “10 Ways To Stay Connected Without Losing Your Mind And Why Blogging Is Not One Of Them”; either Dutch is the concise language I yearn or someone’s been editing…). There’s also the article they wrote about me for the Congres Newsletter, which could be as libelous as they come. We shall see…

And despite having a long-suffering French wife (she came to BarCampScotland for an hour, just for me) I’m sure many of my more geeky readers will understand the concept of not talking about the finer elements of social media’s impact on education to their better half over the apéritif or dessert course. At least on Wednesday night, as I asked her for the first time how to express my concise, snappy English text in some French that was as concise and snappy as French can get, she seemed relatively interested in the subject matter. Never did get that snappy French, though. They just can’t write a sentence without a verb, and a subjunctive at that, it seems.

The programme is packed and includes at least one Web 2.0 seminar. I’m about to work out what I’ll go and listen to, but I’m also tempted to see if it’s possible to walk to the beach in the picture to get some snaps before lunch. In the meantime, with a bedroom view of, well, more bedrooms in the block opposite, it’s Flickr to the rescue.

(Should your child be able to read this?)

Joanna McPake, Acting Director of Scottish CILT, based at the University of Stirling, advocates that British schoolchildren simply require the opportunity to become linguists.

Read this article on the Herald website.

Are modern languages increasingly becoming an elite subject, dominated by the middle classes and concentrated at the top universities?

Read this article on the Education Guardian website.

PUPILS will be given more help in learning Gaelic thanks to a £210,000 grant from the Scottish Executive.

Read this story on the Scotsman website.

The government is expected to publish draft legislation dealing with the Irish language.

Read the full story on the BBC website.

A new college which aims to promote the Chinese culture and language, as well as strengthening business links with Wales, is to open in Ceredigion.

Read more on the BBC website.

The review of language teaching in England by Lord Dearing’s team has recommended making it compulsory in primary schools.

Read this story on the BBC website.