Tackling decline in modern foreign languages

Welsh universities announce major new scheme. "In a world where monolingualism is the exception, our young people are increasingly disadvantaged" - four Welsh universities announce programme to tackle 'serious decline' in MFL take up A new scheme aimed at tackling the 'serious decline' in the take up of modern foreign languages by school pupils in Wales will today be announced by four Welsh universities. Initially a pilot, the major intervention is aimed at increasing the take up and attainment of modern languages at secondary schools across the country. It is funded by the Welsh Government as part of its Global Futures strategy aimed at supporting modern languages in schools in Wales. Under the new scheme, modern foreign language (MFL) undergraduates at Cardiff, Swansea, Bangor and Aberystwyth Universities will be recruited and trained as student mentors and coaches and will be partnered with school students in their respective areas. Each undergraduate will undergo a rigorous assessment process and training with specialists in student mentoring. They will be partnered with committed schools in the areas surrounding their university in close collaboration with regional educational consortia.