The life-changing power of languages

Even though the UK economy is losing billions of pounds every year through a lack of language skills, A level language entries fell by 28 per cent between 1996 and 2014 while the proportion of students taking GCSEs in languages dropped from 78 per cent in 2001 to 40 per cent in 2011.

Cambridge, which provides teaching and resources in more than 170 languages, has offered multilingual talks, language and culture workshops and access events for schools and sixth form colleges. Girton College recently ran a modern and medieval languages inspiration day for 70 year 10 and year 11 students from non-selective state schools. Teachers were asked to nominate one or two pupils they thought would benefit.

The event was the idea of two Girton fellows, Dr Claudia Domenici from the Italian Department and Dr Stuart Davis from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese.

“I’ve been delighted to see interest in Spanish, my specialist language, growing in recent years,” said Dr Davis. “But it has been disheartening to see a general decline in take-up for GCSE and A level languages.

“The intellectual challenge of studying languages is in itself hugely enjoyable but our graduates are also highly employable. Modern language degrees open so many doors to so many wonderful places but they also allow you to reflect on your own culture and to understand its place in the world.”

The speakers at the inspiration day included Jocelyn Wyburd, director of the University of Cambridge Language Centre, who reminded students that in today’s global job market their competitors “include people from all over the world who speak two or more languages”.

She added: “Mastering languages and studying abroad can change who you are in wonderful ways. Research has shown that learning languages strengthens cognitive skills, including problem-solving and mental flexibility, while studying abroad also builds independence and confidence.”