I have my doubts too Osman. I have written to Gove pointing out that
although he is right that language learning needs to start young it
also has to be supported and fully funded right the way through
primary, secondary and tertiary levels, with full funding and support
for the Year Abroad as part of a university language degree. This
continues the campaign of earlier this year in which we made a
submission to the Foreign Office hearings and I think we need to
really emphasize the need for an integrated modern foreign language
pathway from as early as possible to as late as necessary. I am not
sure this response takes that up challenge clearly enough and shift
the argument onto ground which, while entirely valid in its own right,
is not what we should be concentrating on.
Peter
On 14 October 2011 18:48, Osman Durrani <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Am I alone in thinking that we are shooting ourselves in the foot with this response?
> od/ ex-kent
> ________________________________________
> From: JISCmail German Studies List [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Martin Durrell [[log in to unmask]]
> Sent: 14 October 2011 14:40
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Primary Languages
>
> Dear colleagues,
>
> As my previous circular about primary languages generated considerable interested response, list subscribers might be interested in a piece by two colleagues from Aston in today's 'Guardian':
>
> http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/oct/13/foreign-language-teaching-young-children-flawed?INTCMP=SRCH
>
> Regards, Martin
>
> Professor Martin Durrell
> School of Languages, Linguistics & Cultures
> University of Manchester
> Manchester
> M13 9PL
>
--
http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/peter-thompson
Dr Peter Thompson
Senior Lecturer in German
Director of the Centre for Ernst Bloch Studies
Germanic Studies
Jessop West
1 Upper Hanover Street
Sheffield
S3 7RA
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