Children urged to learn languages

Children urged to learn languages

Huw Edwards is backing the languages campaign

Read it in Welsh

Newsreader Huw Edwards is backing a campaign urging schoolchildren in Wales to learn foreign languages, after the number of pupils taking courses dropped in recent years.

The Ten O'Clock News frontman - who has a first class honours degree in French - has filmed a video promoting language learning in Wales.

At present, just 37% of children in Wales study a modern foreign language to GCSE level, compared with 95% in England.

This figure has fallen markedly since 1995, when 55% of Welsh pupils were learning languages to GCSE standard.

New figures revealed on Thursday also showed that Welsh firms were losing out due to a lack of language skills.

The research by Language Network Cymru - on behalf of the Welsh Assembly Government - showed 42% of companies encountered language and cultural barriers when trading internationally.

And less than 10% of the 5,000 firms questioned had a strategy for dealing with language problems.

The survey was carried out to identify important gaps in the education system as the assembly government tries to help Welsh companies boost their level of international business.

Career opportunities

The Languages Work! film, featuring Huw Edwards, sets out to highlight the benefits of multi-lingualism.

It aims to show children how languages can open up a wide range of careers and opportunities.

Young Pobol y Cwm actress Alex Roach also stars in the video, which will be unveiled at Ysgol Maes-yr-Yrfa in Llanelli, south west Wales on Thursday.

During its launch, TV presenters Ben Thomas, from Wales Today, and Heledd Cynwal, from Wedi 7, will answer questions from the pupils.

The film has been created by the Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research.