{"id":212,"date":"2011-03-08T22:29:00","date_gmt":"2011-03-08T22:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/johncanning.wordpress.com\/?p=212"},"modified":"2011-03-08T22:29:00","modified_gmt":"2011-03-08T22:29:00","slug":"speak-to-the-future-what-i-want-for-my-children","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/johncanning.net\/wp\/?p=212","title":{"rendered":"Speak to the future- what I want for my children"},"content":{"rendered":"
I don't know what my two sons will go onto to do when they grow up, but whatever it is languages will always be useful to them. Therefore I not only back the Speak to the Future campaign in my professional capacity, but also as a parent.\u00a0I want my sons not only to study languages, but to have\u00a0sufficient\u00a0competence to be able to work in at least one language other than English.<\/div>\n
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My own school languages experiences ended at GCSE. Although I enjoyed studying French and Russian up to the age of 16, I decided to take\u00a0other\u00a0subjects at A-level. I could go on forever about my belief that the English education system narrows too much after the age of 16, but as a postgraduate student I picked up my French again at the University of\u00a0Bristol's\u00a0School of Continuing\u00a0Education. Although I made\u00a0substantial\u00a0progress, I am aware that I am well short of being able to\u00a0describe\u00a0myself as 'fluent'. \u00a0Nevertheless I have been pleased that I have been able to hold\u00a0conservations with French-speakers- being complimented by a shop\u00a0assistant\u00a0when shopping in Paris is amongst the highlights.<\/div>\n
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For my own children I want more- in fact I demand more. By the age of 16 I want them to be able to do more than ask directions, book a hotel room or express opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of hitch-hiking. The Speak to the\u00a0future\u00a0campaign\u00a0\u00a0is one which has ambitions of all our young people. \u00a0It is languages\u00a0and <\/span>other subjects, not languages verses <\/span>other subjects.<\/div>\n
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The five key aims of the\u00a0campaign\u00a0are:<\/strong><\/div>\n
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  1. Every language valued as an asset
    \n<\/strong>This will encourage policy makers and citizens to recognise that the many languages used in the homes of UK citizens are a valuable resource for social cohesion and economic success.<\/li>\n
  2. A coherent experience of languages for all children in primary school<\/strong>
    \nThis will introduce the learning of other languages and cultures as well as develop a better understanding of how the child\u2019s own languages work.<\/li>\n
  3. A basic working knowledge of at least two languages including English for every child leaving secondary school<\/strong>
    \nThis will equip every school leaver to live and work in a global society where confidence in learning and using other languages is a major advantage.<\/li>\n
  4. Every graduate qualified in a second language<\/strong>
    \nThis will prepare future leaders in business, the professions, voluntary organisations, education and research to thrive and communicate confidently in complex global societies.<\/li>\n
  5. An increase in the number of highly qualified linguists<\/strong>
    \nThis will fulfil the growing need for language professionals, especially English speaking interpreters and translators, and for teachers and researchers specialising in languages and cultures.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    Speak to the Future<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n