You’d never guess that as Director of SCILT, Scotland’s National Centre for Languages, my passion was languages, would you?! Nor will it come as a surprise that I’m delighted about the government’s latest plans to boost languages in Scotland’s schools by exposing all young people to two languages in addition to their mother-tongue. This is a very ambitious plan and won’t be without its challenges, but Scotland needs to rise to this challenge if it is to take its rightful place on the global stage.

I’m often asked why we Scots are so bad at languages; this is simply the wrong question to ask because it unwittingly reinforces negativity and cynicism. Scots are not poor linguists; to say this is to discredit all those young people who recently did so well in their SQA examinations. It can also provide an excuse to avoid careful examination of the barriers and how these can be overcome.

Why do languages matter so much?  Personal passions aside, language learning is a key life skill that all young people in Scotland need. Repeated studies have demonstrated that people with languages are highly employable with skills that boost both export markets and inward investment. Research also shows that language learning improves overall academic achievement and helps create a more tolerant, cohesive society. SCILT will be talking to parents about these benefits on Saturday 1st October at their National Conference.

But we will only reap these benefits if we succeed in engaging young people. CfE is creating the perfect learning environment for languages to flourish with its emphasis on relevance, challenge and enjoyment and the importance placed on culture and global citizenship. This is a great opportunity for us all to work together to take the languages commitment forward and improve life chances for our young people.

Sarah Breslin
Director
Scotland’s National Centre for Languages