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Prof. Monika Schmid on BBC Radio 5 discussing the importance of learning foreign languages

Posted on 2 November 2023

New poll reveals overwhelming UK public support for compulsory language learning in schools. Professor Monika Schmid, Head of Department of the Department of Language and Linguistic Science discusses the benefits of learning foreign languages at school – and even earlier.

New poll reveals overwhelming UK public support for compulsory language learning in schools. Professor Monika Schmid, Head of Department of the Department of Language and Linguistic Science discusses the benefits of learning foreign languages at school – and even earlier.

The takeup of modern languages has been falling steadily, both for GCSEs and for A-levels, for the past 20 years. This is very bad news for the UK’s international standing, both economically and culturally. About two-thirds of adults now feel that foreign language learning should be made compulsory in secondary education. Monika Schmid discusses this survey, and questions around the value of language learning, on BBC Radio 5 live.

The interview can be accessed here from BBC Sounds and it starts as 1:51:40 minutes.