SPRECHEN SIE PHYSICS?
We live in a global economy.
We work in global companies. We
travel around the world. So why,
suddenly, have young Britain’s young people stopped learning languages?
The study of modern languages is in ‘crisis’ according to
educators, and the numbers taking French, German and Spanish is in
‘freefall’. Despite Germany being one of
the most successful economies in the world, entries for A-Level in German have
dropped by 25 per cent in the past five years.
Apparently, lots more young people are taking science and
maths whilst language learning has slumped.
Those taking Physics have increased by nearly a third, Chemistry is up
by 13,000 entrants and Maths has increased 70 per cent. This change has been credited in part to
a certain Rock Star turned Physicist, Dr Brian Cox, which further underlines
the weird effects of celebrity.
Well this is all very laudable and I’m sure we need
scientists, but science, almost more than any other occupation, is an
international pursuit. Research groups, projects
such as the Large Hadron Collider, the search for cancer cures – all these are
international. No single country could
either fund or provide the brainpower to make them happen.
Without linguists, none of these scientists will be able to
talk to each other and if they manage individually to make some great
discoveries, they won’t be able to tell anyone about them. And it’s important to get this right. When you get drugs prescribed by the doctor
you don’t want the formula to have been created via Google translate.
The ability to speak another language fluently is a
tremendous skill and something that’s always in demand. Multilingual people find interesting work
across a huge range of sectors: legal, international business, social work, travel
and leisure, even science if they wish.
Translating and interpreting is also a job that can be fitted around
other work and family commitments. It
offers really flexible opportunities.
The question is, how can we enthuse the next generation of
schoolchildren to learn languages? Any
Rock Star Linguists out there?
Speaking of Rock Stars, on Tuesday I’m attending an awards
ceremony organised by the great and good of the UK business world, the Institute
of Directors, and I’m shortlisted for an Award.
Presently, I’m practising my ‘I don’t mind losing and congratulations to
the winner’ face. I’ll let you know next week how I got on.
Have a great weekend,
Larry
