Dear Jessica,
It's good to hear that you're writing an article on this issue. I don't
think there's any particular agenda against German (colleagues will
correct me if they know differently); Italian is probably in even worse
straits. The Guardian carried a good article on this in March 2007,
together with a depressing map that shows the extent of the
blood-letting at that point:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2007/mar/13/highereducation.cutsandc
losures (colleagues: click on the link just after the title to see the
map). It is a long-term problem, but it has been made critical by
removing the language requirement at GCSE level, and especially by the
government cut-backs, not only with respect to the damage to languages
resulting from the skewed allocation of funds in the wake of the
Research Assessment Exercise, but also to HEFCE's cut-backs generally
(to their credit, they are currently reviewing the situation). Languages
are disproportionately hit because of the necessity for smaller class
groups in language courses - despite the government's nominal
recognition that languages are strategically important but "endangered".
Businesses are crying out for students proficient in modern languages
(see
http://www.cilt.org.uk/home/research_and_statistics/research/cilt_activi
ties/the_economic_case.aspx) , who earn more than those without foreign
language skills. Those of us who teach languages, I think, believe that
our mission runs more toward opening our students' horizons to other
ways of thinking, but either way, Britain needs sophisticated foreign
language training. It is falling farther and farther behind
"competitors" in Europe and America, both in terms of research funding
and producing graduates for the needs of employers (not least of all
schools).
Best,
Dan Wilson
Professor of German
Royal Holloway, University of London
-----Original Message-----
From: JISCmail German Studies List
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jessica Shepherd
Sent: 17 September 2009 13:12
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Guardian newspaper writing about German department closures
Hello
This is Jessica Shepherd from the Guardian. I am writing a feature on
German departments
closing in UK universities. I understand that next month, University of
Leicester's senate will
be discussing whether to close its German department and Queen's
University Belfast is
likely to close its department. I am keen to receive your comments, if
possible today, on
why you think German is being targeted. Why not other
languages/subjects? Is there a
latent animosity towards the subject? Have you heard about other
departments that are
threatened/going to close? Why does it matter if German departments do
close in your
opinion? I am also looking to speak to some students of German at
university and would be
very grateful if you could put me in touch with a couple. I am writing
this today and
tomorrow morning. Please email me on [log in to unmask]
Many thanks.
Jessica
Jessica Shepherd
0203 353 2302
07957147308
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