Latest News

A selection of language-related news. Does not claim to be comprehensive or represent the views of SCILT.


English - Language

English is picking up brilliant new words from around the world – and that’s a gift

12 December 2022 (The Guardian)

Who owns the English language? The answer to this question is no longer as straightforward as “the English”. According to the latest figures from the British Council, English is “spoken at a useful level” by about 1.75 billion people. Counted among this vast anglophone population are not only the hundreds of millions who speak English as a first language, but also the hundreds of millions more who speak it as a second or foreign language in different parts of the world.

English spread across the globe largely as a result of imperialism, as the language was imposed on colonies in Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas. When these former colonies achieved independence, many chose to retain the use of English, usually to function as a primary working language and neutral medium of communication for their diverse populations. As countries such as India, Nigeria, South Africa, Jamaica and Singapore adopted English as a language, they also adapted it – making significant changes to its pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary, and giving rise to new varieties now collectively known as World Englishes.

Read more...

Iran bans English from being taught in primary schools

8 January 2018 (BBC News)

Iran has banned teaching the English language in primary schools, calling the subject a "cultural invasion". The education ministry "envisages strengthening Persian language skills and Iranian Islamic culture of pupils at the primary school stage", its secretary told state media.

Read more...

Living in Britain with no English

19 August 2014 (BBC)

There are almost a million people in the UK who are not conversant in the English language. How much does that matter? Newsnight has had first sight of a report, from the think tank Demos, which calls for a complete overhaul of the government's language training programme.

Jim Reed has been finding out what it is like to live in Britain without English. See the video report.

Read more...

Language issues in migration and integration: perspectives from teachers and learners

22 July 2014 (British Council)

This new book from ESOL Nexus is about the role of language in the integration of migrants. The writers of the chapters are all engaged in the education of migrants as teachers, researchers or policymakers in a wide variety of contexts and they provide us with a rich and thought-provoking array of perspectives from teachers and learners on language issues in migration and integration. Through them we hear directly from learners, migrants who have arrived in a new country and are now striving to master the host language. We learn much from them about the place of language and language learning in their new lives.

Read more...

Our pupils have 63 first languages and our lessons have to reflect that

16 May 2014 (Guardian)

Diverse backgrounds are a huge strength, says primary school teacher Alex Lee. But it's important gifted students aren't neglected in the focus on English skills.

Read more...

Leeds school to teach English as foreign language

24 March 2014 (Guardian)

A secondary school in Leeds at which more than three-quarters of pupils do not have English as a mother tongue has introduced lessons for all pupils to teach them English as a foreign language.

Read more...

The word on every street

7 March 2013 (TESS)

The way English is used around the world is evolving faster than ever. But rather than agonise over grammar, we should celebrate the glorious diversity of this global language.

Read more...

How schools are breaking down the language barrier for EAL students

5 March 2014 (The Guardian)

The number of students who speak foreign languages at home has risen by 20% in five years. Nick Morrison explores the integration and teaching strategies being used in schools.

Read more...

Related Links

Translating maths in a multicultural school community (The Guardian, 5 March 2014) English is the second language at Sacred Heart primary school, but specially designed learning programmes and an inclusive environment enable students to thrive.

Students with English as a second language 'outperform native speakers' in GCSEs (The Independent, 5 March 2014) Lord Nash, the Schools Minister, said students who speak English as an additional language (EAL) scored better grades in the English Baccalaureate (EBacc) than native speakers.

EAL Nexus project

25 February 2014 (British Council)

As part of the new EAL Nexus project, the British Council is seeking interested schools to be involved in funded pilot projects to develop expertise in teaching and learning for EAL learners. Download the EAL Nexus leaflet.

This project will support schools to develop teaching and learning for classes with EAL learners through planning, CPD and in-class team teaching. Participating schools will further develop their expertise through collaboration with other schools and EAL networks and will be part of the database of schools on this major national project.

This school pilot work is within the CPD element of the EAL Nexus project. This is a national EAL project, funded by the European Integration Fund.

The project aims are to:

  • Share and advance knowledge of EAL 
  • Develop the practice of teachers and provision of schools for EAL learners 
  • Develop and share quality-assured resources for teacher development and school provision in EAL

Participating schools will:

  • Receive 8 days of free training and consultancy from an EAL CPD expert.
  • Receive a grant of £900 to cover teacher release time for planning, toolkit production and development of a best practice case study.

For details of the project, school profile required and how to apply, please download the full information from the British Council website.

Read more...

University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages