I'm indebted to Kathryn Board, Chief Executive of CILT National Centre for Languages, who contributed such an informative article on modern languages in the Independent 15th October 2009. Read more
CILT has established 'Languages Work' - a national information resource to provide advisers with information to guide young people through their education and career choices.
What does one automatically think of when language careers are mentioned? Interpreter, translator, teacher perhaps!
Translators: Working on business manuals, legal documents, information for websites, subtitles for DVDs. There are opportunities both in the private and public sector for this kind of work.
Interpreter: Highly competitive - requires one to be highly proficient - currently a shortage of English mother tongue interpreters, so there are likely to be many more interpreting jobs over the next few years.
However, Translating/Interpreting are only a small percentage of the jobs that require languages.
Others include; marketing in a global firm, journalists (particularly sports journalists) able to interview people in their own language and have some understanding of their culture. Salesperson no doubt! Who else could benefit? Doctors, TV presenters, civil servants, those working for/at sports events such as the Olympics, World cup etc
With globalisation and the world financial crisis, the socio-economic map is changing and employers are becoming increasingly conscious that their staff need to be able to communicate in languages other than English.
Take Greiner Packaging (formerly Wilsanco Plastics) - now an Austrian company with Austrians working in Dungannon. How often have local schools invited in their key personnel to talk about their language proficiency and the advantages of more than one language to the business world?
A CBI 2009 survey revealed 74% of employers want to employ people with conversational skills in a foreign language - if not available in the UK then companies will recruit from overseas.
Languages can boost the economy by creating jobs. An economist at Cardiff Business school, James Foreman Peck, has studied the role of languages in patterns of world trade. Alarmingly his research shows that the UK is under performing in trade with non- English speaking countries. Not sharing a language is a barrier to trade for countries but for the UK the effect is nearly double the world average. By improving language skills we could add £21 billion per annum to the GDP. The UK is under investing in language skills!
Which languages?
French and German still the most sought after. Spain's export market is valued at £10 billion for UK companies. The economic importance of Spanish is growing around the world.
There is increasing need for speakers of Portuguese and Russian. Some 38% of firms surveyed are interested in people who speak Cantonese or Mandarin.
Developing financial markets in the Middle East have led to a significant proportion of employers (15%) seeking staff with Arabic language skills. Read more
Graduates without a second language are disadvantaged when looking for jobs. The actor and TV personality Michael Palin's biggest regret was that he was not able to speak another language properly. In a YouGov poll taken recently - adults now regret not taking languages more seriously when at school. Currently in the UK, 44% gain a GCSE in a modern language, 1:20 take French as one of their A levels.
Only 3% of university students take a foreign language as a single/combined degree.
Languages are 'hard' in relation to other subjects! The rewards, however, are there for all to consider.
In schools we must:
- make their experience of learning languages enjoyable, relevant, creative and satisfying
- develop new and interesting courses, such as diploma in languages and international communications.
Why not check out these initiatives with your post 16 students?
The Open School for Languages (provisionally called MYLO), a £5.4 million online learning project to support teenagers learning a key languages. Eleven to sixteen year olds with a new range of online materials relevant to their world as well as new resources for teachers - French, German, Spanish, Mandarin with plans to add more languages.
In 2000, 51% of Internet use was in English but this figure has now dropped in favour of Chinese and Arabic. While English remains a key language of business for the present, it is quite possible that Mandarin will overtake it.
Were you aware that less than 7% of the world speak English as a first language and 75% of the world's population don't speak any English at all?
Hopefully new initiatives will help unblock an anti language culture among young people in schools.
Did you know?
Some 6,000 languages are spoken globally and only 7% of the population speak English as a first language. Languages are compulsory in KS3 only. Today only 44% take GCSE language, a decline from the 76% in 2000. CBI reports that more than a third of employers are specifically recruiting people for their language skills. Some 49% of employers are not satisfied with university leavers' foreign language skills (Research from the Council for Industry and HEd.)
Where in your local area is there the opportunity to explore the importance of modern languages?
Wherever you are in Europe it is a tough time to be looking for work. What is the solution? How do you gain that extra advantage in such a competitive environment?
EUROPASS - UK National Europass Centre (NEC) Read more
Europass is a tried and tested means of highlighting skills and experience in an effective way. It can help to remove barriers to working, studying or training in Europe. It enables people to present competencies and qualifications in a way that is clear and understandable and best of all, it is free!!
Europass is a portfolio of FIVE documents recognised across Europe that demonstrates the various skills and experiences of an individual. Young people choose the relevant document from the list below;
Europass CV, Europass Language Passport, Europass Mobility, Europass Certificate Supplement, and Europass Diploma Supplement. Read more
'I've got these languages and I still can't get a job!' In seeking careers advice and guidance, young people were generally advised to take their languages as part of a wider skills set - combine one or more languages with other disciplines such as Engineering, ICT, Law etc to make oneself more employable.
Writing in the Independent 8/10/2009, Hilary Wilce makes a case for Mandarin;
Mandarin is fast going mainstream with about 500 schools offering it as part of the curriculum, and many more in after school clubs. The language that used to be seen as an exotic novelty is taking its place as a normal GCSE language option.
The subject opens pupils' eyes to the biggest country in the world, hones general language skills, engages boys, who relate to the visual and spatial aspects of the language - enhances students' resumes, and can be a subject in which pupils who struggle with other languages do well.
Mandarin is in the top three languages that employers say they want. The language has gone from novelty to mainstream. There's certainly a general and growing awareness of China.
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