On this subject, the following message from my colleague in French, Mike
Kelly, might be useful.
Patrick Stevenson
Colleagues will have noticed the government's 14-19 green paper, which has
announced their intention to make languages optional after age 14, and to
offer language options at primary level. This is a serious regression from
the current situation in England, where languages are currently compulsory
to age 16, and taken up by about 25% of primary pupils.
The government's efforts to put the best possible construction on this
policy shift are contained in a short brochure available at:
http://www.dfes.gov.uk/14-19greenpaper/download/DfES-LanguageLearning.pdf
Best
Mike
-------------------------------------------
Prof. Michael Kelly
School of Modern Languages
University of Southampton
Southampton SO17 1BJ
Director, LTSN Subject Centre
for Languages, Linguistics and Area Studies
Tel: +44 23 80592191
Fax: +44 23 80594815
----- Original Message -----
From: "RC SPEIRS" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 13, 2002 9:19 AM
Subject: Proposal to make anguage learnng in secondary schools optional
> May I suggest to subscribers that the Green Paper from Estelle
> Morris proposing to make modern language learning optional in
> secondary schools so that pupils may devote time to "vocational"
> subjects deserves a response (one that ought to be copied to the
> local M.P.). If you think her proposal is welcome, I'm sure she
> would like to have your support. If you do not, then it is important
> that she and her colleagues in government hear immediately from
> as many sources as possible what is wrong with the proposal and
> why.
> Professor Ronald Speirs
> Department of German
> University of Birmingham
> Birmingham B15 2TT
>
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