Languages, Society and Policy

Languages in UK Education: introduction Wendy Ayres-Bennett and Charles Forsdick | 26th November 2024 | Policy Collection Introduction: statutory contexts across the UKThe substantial differences between England and the three devolved admin...

As LSP Co-Editors, @emhumps.bsky.social and I want to thank you all for reading and engaging with this Special Collection. Catch up with all the pieces here: www.lspjournal.com/post/languag...

This upcoming event might be of interest to colleagues working on hate speech and AI research.

LANGUAGES, SOCIETY AND POLICY - HOME | LSP Languages, Society and Policy

✨ The Languages in UK Education special issue is now complete! Many thanks to our guest editors @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social for compiling this important collection, and to every contributor for sharing bold ideas to shape language education policy.
🔗 www.lspjournal.com

How can we move from cold spots to hot spots? Learning from current practices which nurture languages education in the four nations of the United Kingdom Jo Biddle and Jane Andrews | 9th July 2025 | Opinion PieceIn this opinion piece, Jo Biddle and Jane Andrews consider a small set of examples of close-to-practice research from the four nations of the ...

How can we turn the UK’s 'cold spots' for language learning into 'hot spots?' 🔥📚
J. Biddle & J. Andrews highlight practical grassroots projects across the UK that show what works: @wendya-b.bsky.social @cforsdick.bsky.social www.lspjournal.com/post/how-can...

Think Like a Linguist: Community and collaboration for a new languages curriculum In this article, Charlotte Ryland reflects on how the learning from creative translation and languages advocacy projects can feed into languages curriculum reform. By focusing in particular on the lin...

What does it really mean to think like a linguist?
Charlotte Ryland argues it's time to move beyond grammar drills and embrace creativity, culture, and collaboration in language education. 🔗 www.lspjournal.com/post/think-l...
✍️ Collection Edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social

The Power of Stories in the Languages Classroom Jonathan McBride | 11th June 2025 | Opinion Piece In this article, Edinburgh-based languages teacher Jonathan McBride argues that stories have the potential to transform modern languages teaching at a...

💬 What if stories—not grammar drills—were the key to unlocking language learning?
Jonathan McBride explores how storytelling can transform language lessons, boost motivation, & help every learner succeed. 📚✨ @wendya-b.bsky.social @cforsdick.bsky.social

Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/the-pow...

✍️ Part of our series edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social

Bridging the Key Stage 2/3 transition gap: Taking primary languages seriously Rowena Kasprowicz | 4th June 2025 | Opinion ArticlesIn the following opinion article, Rowena Kasprowicz explores emerging research evidence demonstrating that, with the right conditions, linguistic pr...

❓Why do so many pupils 'start over' with languages when they reach secondary school?

✏️ In this opinion article, Rowena Kasprowicz calls for practical steps to fix the transition gap—and take primary language learning seriously.

🧵 Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/bridgin...

✍️ In our latest Languages in UK Education collection edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social and @cforsdick.bsky.social

‘Language capital’: reframing formal language-learning in Scotland. Fiona Barclay | 3rd June 2025 | Opinion PieceIn this article, Fiona Barclay considers the longstanding deficit in the social value associated with languages. She argues that this deficit has contribut...

🗣️ Why are fewer students in Scotland choosing languages—even with strong government backing?

@fionabarclay.bsky.social explores how a lack of “language capital” shapes public perceptions, gendered choices, & declining uptake—and proposes 3 steps for change.

🔗 www.lspjournal.com/post/languag...

✍️ Series edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social

💬 What can primary school French and Spanish teachers learn from Irish-Medium classrooms?

Thomas Rogan explores how immersion-style techniques used in Irish-Medium Education could transform modern foreign language teaching in mainstream primary schools.

📖: www.lspjournal.com/post/languag...

✍️ Series edited by Wendy Ayres-Bennett & Charles Forsdick.

Towards Language Education Excellence in Northern Ireland’s Primary Schools Sharon Jones | 28th May 2025 | Opinion PieceIn this opinion piece, Sharon Jones, drawing on her teaching and research in languages and education, reflects on the potential of broadening access to the ...

❓What if every child in Northern Ireland had the chance to learn another language in primary school?

Sharon Jones explores how language education can boost wellbeing, creativity, and connection in a post-conflict society—and why it's time to make it a priority. www.lspjournal.com/post/towards...

✍️ Featured in our Languages in UK Education collection, edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social

International experiences for all Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch | 21st May 2025 | Opinion Piece In this article, Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch, drawing on their professional engagements with key stakeholders, argue that th...

🌍 What happens when international exchanges vanish from schools and universities?

Vicky Gough and Philip Harding-Esch argue for restoring international experiences to the heart of language learning—for all learners, not just a privileged few. www.lspjournal.com/post/interna...

LANGUAGES, SOCIETY AND POLICY - HOME | LSP Languages, Society and Policy

✍️ Part of our Languages and Education series, edited by @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social www.lspjournal.com

New Curriculum, New Languages Education? How International Languages Education is Changing in Wales In the following opinion article, Claire Gorrara and Lucy Jenkins explore how the Curriculum for Wales represents a radical shift in language education, embedding International Languages into the core...

📚 What if a bilingual nation like Wales rewrote its curriculum to rethink language education?
💬 Can International Languages thrive in a learner-led system?
Read the piece by @clairegorrara.bsky.social & Lucy Jenkins, part of our Languages in UK Education series: www.lspjournal.com/post/new-cur...

Rethinking the Purpose of Language Education Suzanne Graham and Alison Porter | 14th May 2025 | Opinion PieceIn the following opinion article Suzanne Graham and Alison Porter argue that primary language education needs a more meaningful and cohe...

🧠💬 What if primary language lessons weren’t just about grammar—but also about empathy, creativity, and global awareness?

In a new Languages in UK Education piece, @suzannegraham.bsky.social and Alison Porter rethink the purpose of early language learning.📖 : www.lspjournal.com/post/rethink...

The Recruitment and Retention of Languages Teachers of Colour from the Global South in England In the following opinion article Lisa Panford finds that urgent intervention is needed to address the conditions into which languages teachers of Colour from the Global South are inducted. Further, th...

✊🏾 New in our Languages in UK Education series: Lisa Panford explores how England’s language teacher shortages are being filled by educators from the Global South—without adequate anti-racist support.

We need ethical recruitment and retention.

Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/the-rec...

📘 New from Languages in UK Education series 👇
Can students keep learning languages after GCSE—without a full A-level?
Neil Kenny proposes a practical, flexible Level 3 ‘Applied Languages’ certificate.
Read more: www.lspjournal.com/post/time-fo...

🎉 We’re delighted to present our new LSP series: Languages in UK Education, guest-edited by @cforsdick.bsky.social and Wendy Ayres-Bennett.

The series explores how the UK can better support linguistic diversity and respond to the languages crisis. 🌍📘

📖 Read more: lspjournal.com