We recognise the importance of languages for building relationships between cultures. Young people having the ability to speak and understand modern languages is essential in increasing trust, trade and engagement between and within societies.
We have developed a range of programmes to support teachers and students to develop language learning:
Host a modern language assistant
Schools can apply to host a language assistant in one school or a group of schools over an agreed period of time. The language assistants are usually native speakers of French, Spanish, German, Italian, and Mandarin Chinese who can help students in UK schools, colleges and universities to develop language skills and understand other cultures.
A language assistant’s time can be spent in one institution or across different primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. Because they can have up to date knowledge of their local culture and language, they can bring fresh ideas and content to modern language teaching. They are usually employed for one academic year but the exact number of weeks depends on where your institution is located. There are costs involved for schools.
Find out more and apply to host a language assistant.
The Mandarin Excellence Programme
Mandarin Chinese is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, so it is one of the most important languages for the UK’s future. This intensive language programme for schools in England aims to get at least 5,000 pupils on track to fluency in Mandarin Chinese by 2020 and beyond. It gives students the opportunity to acquire language skills at an early stage, giving them an advantage in their future careers. Starting from Year 7, selected groups of pupils will study eight hours of Mandarin Chinese every week, including four hours of classroom taught lessons.
Find out more about the Mandarin Excellence Programme and how to apply.
Teaching English resources
Schools in England are becoming increasingly diverse with many different languages being spoken in classrooms around the country. For many students, English is not their first language and increasingly teachers are supporting students to learn the language while in a multi-lingual classroom.
We offer a wide range of practical resources to use in teaching English in your primary classroom, from full lesson plans, covering different topics and themes, to shorter class activities. Teaching English offers practical advice, teaching tips and materials, articles and creative lesson-plans for students at different ages to enjoy learning English.
Discover teaching resources on the Teaching English website.
Language trends
Young people having the ability to speak and understand modern languages is essential in increasing trust, trade and engagement between and within societies.
We understand the importance of languages for building relationships between cultures and we have a collection of research and reports about language trends.
Access the latest news, reports and research shaping foreign language learning in the UK.