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Learning a language can increase the size of your brain

The Guardian has published an article discussing recent research undertaken by scientists at Lund University in Sweden, which has shown that learning a language can increase the size of your brain. The researchers used brain scans on adult military recruits learning Arabic, Russian or Dari intensively to monitor changes in the brain during the language learning process. To read more about the research, visit the Guardian website. Continue reading →

New initiative to help boost the language skills of teachers

The BBC has reported that a network of language teaching hubs is to be set up across England, aimed at boosting the language skills of teachers. The £1.8 million programme will provide support in the languages of the curriculum, including speaking, writing, grammar and translation skills, to approximately 2,000 primary and secondary school teachers over a period of two years. To read the article, visit the BBC website. Continue reading →

Future potential Modern Languages students to attend University Open Days

Hundreds of future potential Modern Languages students will be visiting the University of Southampton on Friday 5th September and Saturday 6th September 2014 for the University Open Days. Visitors to Modern Languages may be interested to take a look at Get Ready for Languages, an online resource which aims to guide you to useful information about life as a Modern Languages student at Southampton. Continue reading →

New national curriculum makes languages compulsory from age five

The Telegraph has published an article discussing the introduction of a new national curriculum this week in primary schools, which is making languages compulsory for children aged five to seven. The new curriculum, which will also see the introduction of a new computing syllabus, has been designed to ‘stop English pupils falling behind their peers in other countries’. To read the article, visit the Telegraph website. Continue reading →

Vote for this year’s public language champion

The Guardian is asking the public to vote for an individual in the public eye who they think best champions language education for the second year of its Public Language Champion Award. The award, launched in partnership British Academy, aims to recognise a public figure who has demonstrated commitment to and passion for the importance of language in British society. To read more about the award, and find out about last year’s nominees, visit the Guardian website. Continue reading →

Free language learning app reaches new levels of success

The Guardian has published an article about the journey and ambitions of Luis von Ahn, creator of the free language learning app, Duolingo. Launched in 2012, the app now has 40 million registered users worldwide and engages its users with its unique design and teaching methods. Von Ahn’s hope is that it will continue to allow anyone who has internet access to learn a language for free. To read more about the Duolingo app and its creator, visit the article page on the Guardian website. Continue reading →

Spanish may become the ‘dominant’ language in schools

TES Connect has reported on a prediction by Andrew Hall, the chief executive of exam board AQA, that Spanish is soon likely to become ‘the most commonly-taught foreign language in UK schools’. The report follows this year’s GCSE results, which showed an increase of more than 20,000 Spanish GCSE entries since 2012. To read the full article, visit the TES Connect website. Continue reading →