A poll published this week by CILT (The National Centre for Languages) asked its readers and members how many thought that languages should be compulsory and, if so, to what level.  Most people (41%) thought that languages should be compulsory up to the age of 16 – so, to GCSE level. (Languages stopped being compulsory in 2004.) Interestingly, 31% thought that languages should be made compulsory up to the age of 18 (which is when you might actually be reasonably fluent in a language and where most European countries stop teaching English!). 17% thought that the current situation, in which languages are compulsory to the age of 14 is about right, whilst 11% didn’t think languages should be made compulsory at all. So, I suppose that is an encouraging sign that many more people realise the need for languages (and as we have said before UK  employers rank foreign language skills as second only to IT when it comes to finding the right candidate). An interesting quiz on the CILT website asks the question ‘how can you use your langauges in the 2012 Olympics?’ Sopme of the questions:

1.  Which other language besides English is an official language of the Olympic movement? (French)

2. Which was the language of the first Olympic Games? (Greek)

3. Of the 205 countries which take part in the Olympic movement, how many have French, Spanish or Arabic as an official language? (French 23; Spanish 20; Arabic 24)

4. Which of these jobs at the 2012 Olympics are likely to need English? – Tour Guide, Booking Officer, Spectator Control Steward, Sales Assistant, Journalist, Event Manager, Airport Security Officer, Sports Official? (All of them!)

And if you’d like to see more about the need for knowing a foreign language, and how it might help you get a job at the Olympics – download and read this document: PDF 373kb. And here is another link to the London 2012 Olympic website. This photo is from the official website – there are plenty more there if you are interested in finding out more.

And if you are still not convinced just come along to one of our evening classes at UIC – and brush up your Chinese, French, Japanese, Italian, German or Spanish!

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