• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home Business and Economics Business

Little Englander mentality still exists

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor In the UK we may live in a more multi-cultural society but according to one academic a “little Englander mentality” still exists, harming the British economy. Dr Steve McCabe, Business expert at Birmingham City University made the statement following calls from MPs to improve the teaching of modern languages. An […]

Joe Mellor by Joe Mellor
2014-07-14 14:11
in Business
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

By Joe Mellor, Deputy Editor

In the UK we may live in a more multi-cultural society but according to one academic a “little Englander mentality” still exists, harming the British economy.

Dr Steve McCabe, Business expert at Birmingham City University made the statement following calls from MPs to improve the teaching of modern languages.

An All-Party Parliamentary Group on modern languages wants to see a “national recovery programme” to improve language skills. They urged all parties to make an election pledge to improve teaching and learning of modern languages in the UK.

The group claims the UK is already losing £50bn a year over poor language skills. It is the effect on the economy that is bothering Dr McCabe.

Steve argues: “In the almost 40 years since joining the EU the world now seems like a much smaller place and we are expected to do business across Europe, still our largest market, and, of course, the emerging economies such as China and India. However, my own view is that the ‘Little Englander’ mentality still exists. You only have to go on holiday to see that the British make little or no effort to learn the language.”

The stereotype of the ignorant Brit abroad may still have some basis in fact, especially in emerging economies, which are markets the UK should be keen to exploit.

RelatedPosts

McDonald’s to pay France huge sum in tax fraud case

Sainsbury’s CEO’s pay triples as supermarket rejects living wage calls

What’s to blame? Car industry suffers horrendous decline as chip shops beg Norway for fish to save businesses

Bonuses in City ‘at record high’ as ‘demoralised’ nurses ‘driven out’ of profession

Steve continues: “As today’s report shows, the refusal to make so called ‘modern’ languages – should we include Mandarin, Russian and Portuguese, the national language of Brazil – an integral part of schooling and societal values makes us poorer; not just culturally but economically. The estimated loss of £50 billion by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on modern languages is as staggering as it is an indictment of past failure. Do I see anything changing soon? Quite frankly the answer is no. That said we should keep hammering at this problem in the hope that change is urgently required.”

Urgent action is needed to tackle this issue, as Baroness Coussins, chairman of the APPG, said: “The next government will need to take clear, urgent and coherent action to upgrade the UK’s foreign language skills.

“Otherwise our young people will continue to fall behind their European and global peers in education and employability; our export growth will be stunted; our international reputation will suffer and our security, defence and diplomacy needs will be compromised.”

The Department for Education said £350,000 was being spent in England in the next year to help primary and secondary teachers improve their teaching of languages.

Please login to join discussion

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

How the Left Can Stop Farage

Londoners have worst debt problems in whole of UK

‘Sterling is under the cosh again’ Pound dives to month low against euro over Brexit fears

Elderly man dies days after being robbed in home by thugs pretending to be police officers

Growing numbers of MPs saying UK’s only option is to stay in the EU

The 20 best things to do in Quebec in 2020

Spirit of the Week: Hernö Pink BTL Gin

Man charged after seen apparently urinating next to Pc Palmer memorial

The Glade at sketch relaunches with a new vegetable-based ‘Garden Menu’

P&O’s Dubai-based owners paid shareholders £270m dividend before mass sacking

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.