Do you watch the news? Or read it on your phone or in print? It’s certainly something I do on daily basis. Whether it’s catching up with the gossip or more serious political matters, my day wouldn’t be the same …
Just this week, I came across a new report from the British Academy, backed by the Royal Society, the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Royal Academy of Engineering. It says that the prospect of Brexit ‘makes it even more …
‘What’, I hear you cry, ‘How can it be good news that fewer pupils are learning a language’. Of course, there is a downside – but also an upside. And that’s what I’d like you to consider. . . First …
Save the Children’s report (Lighting up Young Brains) states that a child’s early years are a ‘critical opportunity for the brain to develop key skills’. Toddlers’ brains are twice as active as adults and form connections at twice the rate …
The first foreign language I studied was French, in primary school, with a great teacher. Why was she great? Because she spoke to us in French throughout our lessons and insisted that we did too. She used French stories that …
Speaking, writing or signing a language is human beings’ primary form of communication. It is how we express ourselves to others. It is what sets us apart from other species. It is what makes us human. Without the ability to …
Easter is fast approaching; later than usual but the shops are already full of chocolate eggs, fluffy toy bunnies and chicks and cards. In Spain, Easter holds far more fun for most – because this is the time for Spanish …
There have been some depressing headlines recently about the state of foreign language learning in UK secondary schools. BBC analysis highlights language learning drops of between 30% and 50% since 2013 in the numbers taking GCSE language courses. This is …
The thing about February is the weather. It can be cold, grey and wet. So we ramp up the heating, cuddle up on the sofa and long for summer. But, and this may surprise you, this could be exactly the …
When I was learning the language (some years ago!) typical French conversation was along the line of ‘Where are you going for your holiday?’ The sort of conversation to be had at the hairdressers, nothing too challenging, or indeed, interesting. …