There’s finally some good news on the language learning front in UK schools, as recent GCSE results reveal an uptick in the number of pupils taking French, Spanish, and German. This year, 134,000 students took French, marking an increase of 4,000 from the previous year. Similarly, German saw a rise from 35,000 to 36,000 students.

However, There is still a long way to go to reach the participation levels of 20 years ago when 450,000 students took GCSE French and German.

The decline in numbers correlates with the decision to make language learning non-mandatory up to GCSE (2003). Moreover, a third of all secondary schools have dropped at least one language from their GCSE options in the subsequent years.

Why Is This Important?

While English is the predominant global language for commerce, this perspective misses the broader benefits of language learning. Those who have studied languages and perhaps lived abroad not only improve their language proficiency but also gain a deeper understanding of the people and culture, leading to stronger connections and more opportunities. From a business standpoint, companies benefit significantly from having employees who understand those facets when dealing with people and businesses overseas.

In addition to the advantages around enhanced communication, cultural understanding, and economic benefits, studies have shown that learning multiple languages can improve cognitive abilities, including problem-solving skills and memory.

Hopefully, the number of students taking languages continues to increase, and we can look forward to opening more overseas markets and broadening our horizons instead of shrinking them.

What do you think about these trends? Are you optimistic about the future of language learning in the UK?

Facts and figures taken from the following websites ¹: GOV.UK - GCSE Modern Foreign Languages ²: The Conversation - GCSE Results ³: BBC News - Foreign Languages in Schools