2008 News archive

£1,000 bursaries available for UK students

18 December 2008
The Charles de Gaulle Bursary offers students from the UK the unique opportunity of spending a 4-week period in France to undertake a study project. The British Council is awarding bursaries to students in the 17-19 age range.

Global export challenge warning for South West businesses

11 December 2008
The South West must meet global export challenges head on with improved world class communications using effective language and cultural awareness skills, warned two West Country experts at the International Trade Forum in Bristol this week.

European Commission scheme offers fully funded executive training in China

11 December 2008
METP, the official EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme, offers executives the possibility to train as China experts. Applications for the Programme can be submitted until January 4, 2009.

Survey shows halt in languages decline

11 December 2008
The results of the 2008 Language Trends survey on languages at secondary level shows that languages in secondary schools are in a period of rapid change and development. The decline in participation in language learning has been halted, although there is as yet little sign of any overall increase in numbers.

Dorchester school in Passport to Export success

4 December 2008
Students from the Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester have been given a unique opportunity to demonstrate their learning and business skills in French during this academic year. Pupils were given the chance to manufacture and market a product or service abroad.

Top ten mistakes on multilingual websites

4 December 2008
Although companies today generally understand the importance of search engine optimization on their home language websites, they don’t take the same care when translating their websites into other languages. Find out about the ten most common mistakes businesses make when having their websites translated.

School celebrates double export competition success

27 November 2008
Hayle Community School, a specialist language and business enterprise college in Cornwall, triumphed last week with two exciting announcements at the finals of the Passport to Export International Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Competition.

New national Standards promote intercultural respect at work

27 November 2008
The first ever National Occupational Standards for working with people from different countries or diverse cultures will be launched today at a high profile event in central London. The new Standards provide a quality benchmark for building mutual respect, improving communication and workforce relations, and reducing racism.

Language strategy recommendations for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

27 November 2008
A report published recently by RintoL recommends the language initiatives needed to ensure Britain is a generous host not only for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but other international events.
The report stresses the importance of volunteers and Higher Education, and includes links to websites with more information about the 2012 Games.

Diploma in Languages - final consultation

20 November 2008
The Diploma in Languages is a new qualification for students aged 14 to 19, which is due to be launched in schools from 2011. Businesses, schools and other stakeholders are given a final opportunity for feedback during various events around the UK.

Tourism businesses multilingual challenge in overseas markets

20 November 2008
Tourism businesses in the South West are being challenged in a competition to attract more overseas customers to the region in 2009 through using multi-lingual websites. Businesses are given the chance to win a multi-lingual website design package worth £500.

Applications now open for European Award for Languages

6 November 2008
The search is on for the UK's most innovative language projects, as applications open for next year's European Award for Languages. Schools, colleges, adult education and community projects are invited to apply for this prestigious award ahead of the deadline on 30 January 2009.

Hayle School "Let's Fly!" on European Day of Languages

2 October 2008
Hayle School, a specialist language and business enterprise college, teamed up with Flybe and Newquay Cornwall Airport to transform the school hall as an arrivals and departure lounge of a Spanish airport and its international classroom, as the inside of a Spanish aircraft. The Let’s Fly theme aimed to promote the relevance of modern foreign languages in business.

Japanese thriller steals the show and language and film talent awards

2 October 2008
A video showing how a lack of languages skills can be fatal when under attack by Japanese dragons won the top prize at the Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) ceremony on Thursday 25 September. Christopher Thompson, Guy Taylor and Michael Kinahan from Belfast walked away with the prestigious award for Overall Best Entry.

Read more about this and other videos and winners on the Languages Work website.

Last chance to vote for your favourite LAFTAs video

11 September 2008
With the deadline for the LAFTAs People’s Vote approaching fast, this is your last chance to choose which shortlisted video clip should be awarded a special prize at the LAFTAs Ceremony later this month. The Language and Film Talent Awards is a competition for 13-21 year olds, who have been invited to show us why we need languages.

Translation competition now open

11 September 2008
Following the success of last year's contest, The European Commission Translation Department are holding Juvenes Translatores 2008 - a competition open to seventeen-year-olds from schools across the EU.

Dramatic decline in foreign languages studied at university

21 August 2008
Evidence of the alarming fall in the take-up of languages by students at universities has emerged in research, reports The Independent. Overall, the figures show the number of students accepted on to language courses has slumped by almost a quarter during the past decade.

A level results show UK is producing high performing linguists

14 August 2008
UK A level results published this morning show that take up of languages at A level remains stable, with a high proportion of pupils continuing to achieve top grades relative to other subjects.

Teenagers try life in another language in new T4 series

14 August 2008
In a new Saturday morning TV series on T4, twelve young people use their language skills to compete for the ultimate work experience in the music industry: the job of a ‘fixer’ on a successful band’s European Tour.

Cruise ship welcome boosts tourism in Dorset

7 August 2008
Local tourism has been boosted this week with a visit by the first call of German cruise ship, MS Deutschland to Portland Port. The cruise ship passengers were greeted by local dignitaries and language volunteers. A call for fluent German speaking volunteers by RLN SW has led to a network being set up to cater for visits by cruise ships and overseas visitors attending international events in Weymouth and Portland.

Quick Fix - learn essential holiday phrases

31 July 2008
The BBC Languages website offers essential holiday phrases in a number of languages. You can download sound files to your mp3 player, practise Chinese tones and characters in time for the Olympics, watch a mystery drama in Spanish, and much more.

Visit the BBC Languages website

Free training days for community languages teachers

31 July 2008
The Our Languages project, in partnership with the CILT Comenius network, is offering eight free full-day regional training days in September and October to provide upskilling in pedagogy for community languages teachers from both the complementary and mainstream school sectors.
One training day will be held in the South West, in Bristol on 17 September.

UK embraces technology to win European Languages Awards

24 July 2008
UK winners of the prestigious European Award for Languages have shown that learners of all ages are inspired to develop language skills through creative use of new technologies.

Podcasts, interactive DVDs and video conferencing all feature in projects run by the winners of the Award, which was presented on 16 July by Sir Trevor McDonald.

European Day of Languages - what will you do?

17 July 2008
26 September is European Day of Languages - a Council of Europe initiative held annually to celebrate language and cultural diversity. Now in its eighth year, EDL aims to alert the public to the importance of language learning.
Find out how you can celebrate the day.

New guide for migrant workers now available in Polish

17 July 2008
Multicultural UK has published an updated guide for international workers coming to the UK. The guide is available in English and Polish.

For more information, visit the Fractal Publishing website.

Cornish school wins top European award for languages

10 July 2008
Hayle Community School in Cornwall has been awarded the European Award for Languages 2008 for its “outstanding” Passport to Export language initiative (see article below).
Teachers will travel to London on 16 July to receive the reward from Sir Trevor Macdonald.

Soapstars dazzle Madrid

3 July 2008
Six students from Hayle Community School in Cornwall have paid a memorable visit to the British Embassy in Madrid where they met the British Ambassador. They were the winners of the 2007 UKTI South West competition to find UK entrepreneurs of the future.

New research shows primary languages on the rise

3 July 2008
New research published by the National Foundation for Educational Research has demonstrated a great increase in the number of primary schools teaching foreign languages to children. The report showed that 84% of English primaries now teach a foreign language.

Managers wanted for exchange programme with China

22 May 2008
Managers of SMEs and entrepreneurs with an interest in the Chinese market and a strong business background are being invited to apply for the EU-China Managers Exchange and Training Programme (METP).

TV production company looking for modern languages stars

22 May 2008
Shine Ltd are developing a TV series for Channel Four, aimed at inspiring more young people to study modern languages at secondary school and beyond.

Win a language learning pack

22 May 2008
Answer two simple questions to win one of five Routledge Colloquial Language learning packs in the language of your choice.

The competition runs until 13 June. It celebrates Adult Learners' Week and is supported by CILT, the National Centre for Languages.

Visit the CILT website for more information and to participate
in the competition

Firms benefit from language and cultural network success

15 May 2008
RLN South West has hosted an event to celebrate five years of achievements in helping businesses improve performance in overseas markets.

Holiday Language Courses

15 May 2008
Going on holiday soon? The University of Exeter is offering holiday language courses in Greek, Spanish and Italian.

Video competition inspires UK language talent

15 May 2008
The Languages and Film Talent Awards (LAFTAs) has received a total of over 150 entries.

13-21-year olds were invited to make two-minute videos showing the importance of language learning. The videos can be seen on YouTube.

Skills survey shows demand for languages

24 April 2008
A survey published this month by CBI showed that employers highly value communication skills, with 75% seeing conversational ability in languages as a desirable skill in applicants.

Graduate placement scheme for translation graduates

24 April 2008
The Gateways into Languages graduate placement programme celebrated its launch this month. The programme aims to improve the employability of students graduating from postgraduate translation courses through work placements in translation companies.

Halt in decline of language A-levels

3 April 2008
Figures released in March which show a halt in the decline in the number of students taking A levels in languages are to be welcomed as a sign that efforts to put across the value of language learning are starting to take effect. Isabella Moore, CEO of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, comments.

New microsite promotes innovation in language teaching

3 April 2008
Those teaching languages to the 14-19 age group can now draw on a new resource. The new microsite, ‘Reshaping Languages’ has been designed to promote innovative practice across a wide range of language requirements.

Britons highlight lack of language skills as life’s biggest regret

27 March 2008
Research released by the Department of Children, Schools and Families (DSCF) showed that learning a foreign language remains the biggest regret from British people’s school days. French topped the list of subjects that people wished they had learnt.

Cambridge drops foreign language entry requirement

20 March 2008
The University of Cambridge is proposing to drop the need for a GCSE foreign language as part of its admissions criteria to attract more children from state schools, reports The Guardian.

New developments in LAFTAs competition

13 March 2008
With one month left until the deadline for the Languages and Film Talent Awards (the LAFTAs), there is still time to get your entries in. We have seen several exciting developments in the competition during the last month, including a range of new prizes and sponsors.

British bosses see need for cultural awareness (but fall short)

14 February 2008
The majority of British bosses taking part in a recent survey think that they should make an effort to learn about business etiquette in other countries. However, over two thirds are embarrassed by their lack of knowledge of other cultures.

Firms lose business due to lack of language skills

14 February 2008
One quarter of UK companies (26%) have lost out on business because their staff cannot speak a foreign language, according to a survey of 500 UK firms published in January.

New careers factsheets show that Languages Work

14 February 2008
A range of new ‘Languages Work’ factsheets are available to accompany the upcoming 14-19 Diplomas in the Built Environment and Engineering, where languages are a study option. These complement a recently published factsheet on careers in translation and interpreting.

Download the factsheets from the Languages Work website

Building stronger business ties with India

7 February 2008
Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, states that our future success lies in building strong ties with India.
Read his comment on business links with India.

Car manufacturer's advert offends Chinese

7 February 2008
French car-maker Citroen has apologized to China for running a full-page advertisement in several Spanish newspapers featuring a poster of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong pulling a wry face at a sporty hatch-back, reports Reuters.

RLN podcasts now available for over 20 countries

17 January 2008
RLN East Midlands has extended its range of free podcasts featuring interviews, country profiles and essential phrases in several languages. There are now podcasts available for over 20 countries on a dedicated website.

European Award for Languages - nominations wanted

17 January 2008
The deadline is approaching for this year's European Award for Languages - anybody wishing to nominate an outstanding language initative should do so before 1 February 2008.

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