With English as an undisputed global lingua franca, there is long-standing concern in anglophone countries over the lack of interest in language learning. In the UK, significant changes in language education policy, a mentality of insularity and the global spread of English have all contributed to a drop in language learning uptake beyond the…

This article reports on the small-scale evaluation of a school-based action research project, focusing on the creation of teaching materials aimed at developing tools for multilingualism for pupils aged 7-14. This three-year project was launched in September 2004 in 12 state primary schools and two secondary schools in two local authorities in the…

The Specialist Schools Initiative in England has urged schools to plan their teaching of foreign languages in relation to the linguistic needs and preferences of their local communities. The changing multilingual fabric of many parts of Britain make such a goal a potentially difficult and controversial process. This paper explores the views of a…

Discusses the overall role of languages in Europe, focusing on the relevance of second language instruction to all pupils, multilingualism, the role of English, minority languages, languages and culture, language teaching methodologies, nationalism and internationalism, and the national curriculum for modern foreign languages in England and Wales.…

Discusses the regional identities operating within and influencing the reality of the European Union. Specific focus is on INTERREG, plurilingualism, English as an auxilary language, minority languages, modern languages in secondary and tertiary education, responding to the needs of business, and a national policy toward foreign language…