Business Language Champions is just one example of an innovative project to get more people interested in learning and keeping up language skills. 

There are many other brilliant schemes and initiatives taking place in our schools, colleges, universities, businesses and community groups and the cream of the crop were recently recognised in the European Award for Languages 2010.

The European Award for Languages recognises creative ways to improve the quality of language teaching, motivate students and make the best of available resources.

This year’s winners included projects to develop the learning of Mandarin, Arabic, Urdu and other community languages, with one very innovative partnership in Hampshire using the London 2012 Olympic Games as an incentive to get pupils trying out some of the 124 languages spoken by pupils in the county.

Meanwhile, projects in secondary schools included linking up with local businesses to get pupils learning French in real-life scenarios; spicing things up by delivering cookery courses in French and German; and teaming up with Japanese Olympic athletes to educate local children about the language, culture and sports of Japan.

Websites, podcasts, film and blogging also featured in a number of projects, indicating that technology is becoming more widely used in language learning across the spectrum.

Organisers of the Arsenal Double club, whose far-reaching work has been a real inspiration over the last few years, received an outstanding contribution award in recognition of their efforts combining languages with football in schools across the country.

EAL is a Europe-wide award, supported by the European Commission and co-ordinated in the UK by CILT the National Centre for Languages.

Please click here for a full list of the winners, who received their awards at a prize-giving ceremony at the Emirates Stadium, London, on the 29 June 2010.