Why study Modern Foreign Languages?. “Only 6 per cent of the global population are native English speakers.” Extracts from a House of Lords Debate, 3

Why study

Modern Foreign

Languages?

“Only 6 per cent of the global population are native English speakers.”

Extracts from a House of Lords Debate, 3 December 2009

“75 per cent of the world’s population speak no English at all.”


“English material on the web has fallen from 51 per cent in 2000 to only 29 per cent in 2009.”


“80 per cent of English exporters are unable to conduct business in a foreign language .”


“77 % British exporters believe they lose business because they can’t speak other languages.”


“Exporters who use language skills achieve on average 45 % more sales.”


“ Research suggests the UK is missing out on contracts worth up to £21 billion a year because of the lack of language skills in the workforce.”


“60% UK employers are dissatisfied with the foreign language skills of school leavers.”Extracts from a House of Lords Debate, 3 December 2009

“ More than 30% UK businesses want people specifically for their language skills.”


“72% UK international trade is with non-English-speaking countries.”


“Most employers do not require complete fluency.”


“They want conversational ability, which will give a good impression, help to build relationships and make new contacts.”


“Modern linguists earn more than graduates from any other discipline except medics, architects and pharmacologists.”


“Unless the decline in modern

language learning is reversed,

anglophone Britons will become

one of the most monolingual

peoples in the world, with severe

consequences for our economy, for

business competitiveness, for

international reputation and

mobility and for community

cohesion at home.”

Professor Michael Worton, November 2009


Modern Languagesat

Clydebank High

In S2 you will learn how to talk about :

• what people have done in the past• people’s daily routine• your family and friends• illness and solutions• food and drink• places in Paris• holidays you have been on

In S2 you will learn how to :

• listen for information effectively• take part in more extended conversations• give more detailed reasons for your opinions• work in a group to prepare a presentation• read aloud confidently• use a bilingual dictionary• check the accuracy of your own work• write using a variety of tenses

open

doors …

Documents

Why study Modern Foreign Languages?. “Only 6 per cent of the global population are native English speakers.” Extracts from a House of Lords Debate, 3