http://www.theguardian.com/education/2014/nov/07/-sp-do-young-people-care-about-learning-foreign-languages-data
I have read the article called “Do young people care about learning foreign languages?” that was published in The Guardian on 7th of November. It was written by Holly Young. I have chosen it, because this topic is very interesting for me, as I am studying English now, the most prevalent and the most widely used language. In this case, why should Englishmen learn the other languages? What persuade them to learn German, Japanese or Russian, for example? This article helped me to find answers on these questions.
Holly Young gives us a wide research conducted for the Guardian and British Academy by the polling organization ICM. It paints a far more nuanced picture of youth attitudes towards learning of foreign languages in the UK. 1001 young people between the ages of 14-24 interviewed the survey, and the results of it are presented in the article. The first key observation from it is “the main benefit of learning a language is getting a job abroad”. It also includes other reasons for studying languages, and it was not surprisingly for me to see such causes and numbers. The second one shows us downsides to learning a language. These data convinced me that Englishmen really want to study other languages, despite the fact that they are native speakers of the most international language ever. They just face to some difficulties, such as complicated grammar, vocabulary and others. The next pair of observations includes the reasons of refusing pupils to study a foreign language at GCSE and students’ abilities in the language they have studied. And here again I can point out that a foreign language is one of the most difficult subjects at school. Moreover, even if you study it hard, its level lives much to be desired. Evidences of my words you can find in the observation. The last statistic gives us information about things which persuade Englishmen to study foreign languages. This survey is “food for thought for the current review of A-level languages” – Holly Young.
To sum it up, this article is absolutely complete, it covers its topic perfectly well and granted answers on my questions. In my opinion, all surveys are true and provide the full picture of language education in UK. This article helped me to look at English language from another side, from the side of native speakers, and also I found out what are the most efficient and interesting activities for pupils, which I will use in my future work.
Speaking about statistics, what encourage you to study languages? Is it easy for you to learn new languages? If no, what are the difficulties?
I've just read this article, and I'd like to agree with all the stated points since the topic is a very actual one. It's always curious to see how the problem is being looked at inside, whilst we can only see it outside. Personally, I think that the question is very actual for our country, too, as many young learners refuse to deal with foreign languages because of a very well-known list of problems one can outlive during the studying process.
ОтветитьУдалитьGoing up to your question, I'd like to define my own reasons for learning foreign languages:
-getting to know different cultures, people and lands
-job perspectives
-the ability to go abroad
Basically, I guess everyone can find reasons (or at least one reason) for studying, but everything depends on motivation, real goals and readiness to work hard to achieve greater results.
Probably, the native English speakers can consider themselves 'lucky' whilst English is an international language, but they must not forget about the personal development and, as it was said, 'food for thought' which, undoubtedly, comes with the new knowledge.
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ОтветитьУдалитьI agree that the problem that you have covered is a very actual one. And it really gives us a food for thought. I absolutely agree with all statistics and statements. Many students refuse to study another language because it is too complicated for them. And as we know there are some problems of studying another language so students prefer not to deal with foreign lanuages.
ОтветитьУдалитьSpeaking about your questions, as for me, the ability to go abroad and to live in another country, the ability to have a perspective job are my motives to study English.
Of course, it is very difficult to learn new languages because it is another languge with its own rules, accent, grammar structure, vocabulary and so on. And the use of the foreign language may not coincide with the use of your native language and that's why you should study it by hard.
Learning of foreign languages in the UK is not a big necessity. People around the world learn English and UK residents already speak it, they are native speakers. As Rita said they are "lucky". But it's great when Englishmen speaking the international language, want to learn other languages. It's an indicator of curiosity.
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