The Scotland Russia Forum has redesigned its website. The website editor has asked for your comments - email on scotrussforum@blueyonder.co.uk.You can also join up for next year on the new interactive Join Us page (new subscriptions run until end August 2008).

A dialect so dense that it held up social reforms has been rescued from obscurity by the publication of its first dictionary, says this article on the Guardian Books website. Thousands of terms used in Pitmatic, the oddly-named argot of miners in north-east England for more than 150 years, have been compiled through detailed research […]

The annual Isle of Wight Conference will take place on Saturday 13 October. The lead practitioner will be Joe Dale and topics covered will include:

Blogging and podcasting
Digital video
eTwinning
Primary languages
Presentation software
Interactive whiteboards/classroom performance system
One stop animation
Rhythm and song
Assessment for learning
Enhancing memory/learning styles

Aims and objectives:

To provide teachers from the local area and further a field with appropriate practical training […]

The European Day of Languages (EDL), a Council of Europe initiative, is held annually on the 26 September to celebrate language and cultural diversity. The Day was first celebrated in 2001, the European Year of Languages and involves more people every year.
EDL aims to:

To alert the public to the importance of language learning
To increase awareness […]

The latest instalment of the ELT diary on the Education Guardian website talks about wristwatch translation devices, English-language learning devices for the Nintendo DS, and English-language classes for Gilette employees in the US.
Read the article on the Education Guardian website.

Current UCAS data, released 19 July, indicates that many languages are experiencing increases in applications for single and major honours degrees this year. Notably, Japanese applications are up by 41%, German by 20% and Modern Middle Eastern Studies by 10%. This is compared with a 6% overall increase in applications across all subjects, compared to […]

Bogus language schools and colleges are to be targeted in a new drive to bring down the number of fake students being given visas to come to the UK.
Read the full story on the BBC website.

 Children in Europe is hosting an event at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival. ‘In My Own Words’, on 14 August 2007 at 5.30pm will be a lively and colourful debate considering whether our encounters with languages help shape our lives. A multilingual panel will include Scottish Gaelic folklorist and singer Margaret Bennett, French writer […]

Russia has launched a campaign to promote the national language after almost two decades of retreat - to match the country’s increasing economic and political confidence.
Read more on the Reuters website.

Bookshop chain Borders has started selling Polish titles at its flagship stores in London’s Oxford Street, Southampton and Birmingham. The stock of more than 100 titles is expected to be introduced nationwide later this year.
Read more on the Guardian website.