The UK language learning crisis in the public media: a critical analysis

Abstract

Low levels of foreign language learning in the United Kingdom have been attributed to a lack of interest and motivation which, it is claimed, is partly fostered by the media. The present study examines 90 UK newspaper articles that contributed to the public debate on the language learning crisis in the UK between February 2010 and February 2012. Articles were drawn from both national (England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland) and regional newspapers via Nexis UK. Adopting a Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) theoretical perspective, the authors analyse the themes mentioned in different newspapers, before relating the findings to the target readership demographics of individual newspapers, in order to show how themes identified in particular publications, as well as in the press of the four UK nations, relate to the target readerships and the political context of language policies within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Notes

1. Routes into Languages. https://www.routesintolanguages.ac.uk/ (accessed 7 July 2013).

2. Until 2000, all English state schools were controlled by state-funded local authorities. Both academies (http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/academies/b00205692/whatisanacademy) and free schools (http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/typesofschools/freeschools) are independent, self-governing schools directly funded by, but not controlled by, the state. Academies account for 70% of secondary and 30% of primary schools.

3. The Ebacc is a new performance measure for secondary schools measuring ‘good’ GCSE achievements in five key subjects, including a modern or classic language.

4. See for example http://www.orbit-comms.co.uk/scotlands-diplomats-alarmed-by-language-assistants-drop/(accessed 7 July 2013).

5. For example, during the period discussed:

Word of Mouth, BBC Radio 4, 19 July 2011,

You and Yours BBC Radio 4, 31 August 2010

Talk Sport Radio and Radio France, 25 August 2010

15 local radio stations including Heart and BBC, 25 February 2010

BBC Radio Wales, 28 October 2009

BBC1 The Politics Sshow,7 February 2010

France 2 (TV), 26 August 2010

The One Show (BBC1), 21 September 2009

More 4 News (Channel 4), 10 September 2009

6. Nexus UK is a searchable database of current and archived newspapers.