British Academy: The UK's National Academy for the Humanities and Social Sciences
Language Learning No Luxury
6.30pm, Monday 14 May 2007
A British Academy evening discussion, following Lord Dearing's Languages Review, with Professor Dick Hudson, FBA, University College London, Professor Mike Kelly, University of Southampton and Professor Haun Saussy, Yale University.
Participating chair: Professor Marian Hobson, FBA, Queen Mary, University of London
The British Academy, 10 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1
Both from the point of view of business and of scholarship, the decline in language learning at school, and of the take-up of A levels in languages, is disastrous. It is likely to have consequences that are with us for years. The implementation of the Dearing report may help matters somewhat, but the basic problem is likely not to dissipate quickly.
The discussion will cover:
- the relation of language-learning to other parts of the syllabus in schools and universities
- the role of languages in life-long learning
- the experience of other countries in creating policy for language learning
- the relation of language learning to understanding linguistic relativity
The Academy's response to the Dearing Review is available from www.britac.ac.uk/news/release.asp?Newsid=244
Article, 'Languages Matter', by Marian Hobson in British Academy Review (2007) (PDF file - 149 KB)
Please note our registration and seating policy:
- Please register using the on-line booking form
- No tickets will be issued for this event.
- The first 100 audience members arriving at the Academy will be offered a seat in our Lecture Room where this event will take place. The next 50 people to arrive will be offered a seat in our Overflow Room which has a video and audio link to the Lecture Room.