On the day schools across Europe celebrate the
annual European Day of Languages, CILT, the National Centre for
Languages, goes live with its national campaign to raise awareness
of the importance of language learning in the UK.
The Languages Work Pledge is an online
campaign for businesses and individuals to sign up and show their
support for improving our nation’s intercultural and language
skills for employment and the UK economy.
“Signing the Languages Work Pledge is a simple
and practical way to ensure that the importance of languages and
intercultural skills to business in the UK is kept at the forefront
of the Government’s agenda. Research has shown that more and more
companies are looking for multi-lingual employees with an
understanding of other cultures and we need to ensure that the
provision is there for young people in the UK to learn these vital
skills. If they don’t have language skills they will be at a
disadvantage when competing in today’s jobs market”, said Michelle
Brassell, CILT’s Employer Engagement Adviser.
The European Day of Languages on September
26th celebrates the 6000 languages spoken around the
world, and provides the opportunity for schools and communities to
promote language learning and the rich culture that lies behind
every language. This year over forty countries across Europe
are coming up with all sorts of imaginative ways to join in the
festivities through music, drama, dancing, poetry, bilingual board
games, and even using Twitter for language learning.
There are link ups between a schools in Italy
and Australia who are holding Harmony Day 2010 and schools in
Poland and the UK who are focusing on English sayings and
proverbs.
“The European Day of Languages is a great way
of firing enthusiasm for learning a language among young people. It
is an opportunity for them to find out that learning a language can
be fun and a real boost in their future career. There are more and
more opportunities for workers who can speak another language both
in the UK and abroad”, said Teresa Tinsley, Director of
Communications at CILT.
Everyone in the UK can join in this year’s
celebration of the European Day of Languages.
If you value languages as a business or an
individual sign the Languages Work
Pledge.