Why the Decline In Popularity of Modern Languages In Schools in Northern Ireland?

A recent study by the BBC revealed that the number of students taking up modern languages at GCSE level has decreased by more than 40% in the past 15 years with the figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications highlighting a sad and significant decline in the popularity of languages.

What I want to know however is why young people suddenly seem disinterested in learning languages?

I am a huge advocate of learning languages. Having taken both French and Spanish at GCSE level, I have continued Spanish into A-Level and whilst it has proved to be very difficult it has also been very rewarding. When I now go to Spain or Spanish speaking countries on holiday, I have the confidence and ability to engage in conversation with the locals, I can read Spanish very well and I even watch Spanish TV from time to time. I have tried to immerse myself in Spanish culture, and believe that it has been highly beneficial with regards to my cultural understanding of the world. 

If, (fingers crossed) I pass my A-Level in Spanish and am able to continue it to university level and become fluent in the language it opens up a range of employment opportunities as having a second language makes you highly desirable in a range of industries. It gives me the opportunity to work abroad or work with Spanish speakers, a highly interesting and appealing proposition. 

All I was fed in school when choosing my GCSEs was that whilst not compulsory, it is very much advised that you take at least one modern language for the very reason that it enhances your CV.  You were told to seriously consider taking at least one language, especially if you are thinking of applying to university in the Republic of Ireland, where it is mandatory to have a GCSE qualification in a modern language of your choice to be considered for entry. 

Many headed that warning and there were two classes for both French and Spanish and an Irish class at GCSE. Admittedly my French class was rather small and it was from there that I began to see a decline in the popularity of modern languages with my own eyes as by the time we got A-Levels there was only a single class of each of the languages aforementioned, with only five students in my Spanish class.

That can be explained by the fact that after GCSE level, however, you were only allowed to pick a language if you achieved at least an A grade in the chosen language, which introduces the argument that languages are decreasing in popularity as they are so difficult.

For many pupils, languages are now seen as a high-risk choice. They believe it is harder to get a high grade in exams due to the unique nature of learning languages. Language exams aren’t like any normal exam, you can’t absorb facts, learn them off and go in and regurgitate information. They require a lot of independent work at home, from learning vocab to reinforcing grammar rules, reading or listening to the language in your spare time, languages are a huge undertaking and not a subject in school but rather a skill that has to be mastered.

At GCSE level with at least eight other subjects to juggle, some people just can’t handle the huge workload that languages bring. Students at that level want to be spoon-fed information that they know that if they learn off then they will do well. It is a ruthless system which is why many avoid languages if they feel they won’t get the best grades in them. 

For others, they simply don’t see the benefit of taking up a language due to the fact that almost anywhere in the world you go the people in that country will speak English almost fluently, it is arguably the most widely spoken and written language in the world. Students don’t want to invest their precious time in learning another language when they can just speak English and this ignorance is another contributing factor to the decline of modern languages. 

The rise in the popularity of ‘STEM’ (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) related subjects due to the increasing amount of jobs available as well as the huge boom of the IT industry in Northern Ireland means that many students are choosing subjects likely to get them a career in those high paying sectors.

Yet, people underestimate the value of having a language, even in jobs which are seemingly unrelated to those areas which are thriving at the minute. A second language not only makes you more employable but recent studies have also shown that learning languages improves your problem solving and memory skills, highlighting that bilingual students are very well rounded. 

Having a modern language helps you stand out from the rest of the crowd when it comes to applying for a highly competitive job. This is due to the fact that when you are vying for the position with many others who are no doubt as equally qualified for the job as you, a language may be the decisive factor in you getting the position over others as you are a more valuable asset with a second language. 

So whilst modern languages are on the decline in schools for a number of reasons, I think that they still have an important place in the curriculum for students who are passionate about them and who want to study them to enhance themselves. I believe that languages are more than just subjects at school but rather skills which will aid a student in any career they decide to venture into, and who knows it may be a generational thing and the popularity of languages may soon begin to rise once again.