Nurturing the Next Generation of Linguists (and Bridge Builders) in an Increasingly Divided World

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of returning to Channing School — my alma mater — to speak at the Springboard Higher Education and Careers Event. It’s been 20 years since I left Channing, but the moment I stepped back through those familiar gates, it felt like no time had passed at all.

It was a real privilege to be invited back in a professional capacity, representing the language services industry as a translator, interpreter, teacher, and Member of the CIOL. I had the chance to speak with current pupils, parents, and teachers — not only from Channing but also from partner schools, including St. Aloysius College.

And I was truly heartened by what I saw: pupils in Year 10 and Sixth Form who were genuinely passionate about languages. Some already had their sights set on studying languages at university. Others were curious about how language skills might fit into their future career paths. The questions they asked — thoughtful, ambitious, and reflective — reminded me exactly why I do what I do.

As language professionals, we often find ourselves advocating for a field that doesn’t always receive the recognition it deserves – particularly here in the UK. Sadly, the statistics are stark:

• In 1997/98, around 86% of pupils in England took at least one modern foreign language at GCSE. By 2022/23, this had dropped to 47%, according to the House of Commons Library.

• While French and Spanish remain the most studied, the numbers are still in decline – with only 19% of pupils taking French and 18% taking Spanish. German has dropped even further, with just 5% of pupils sitting the exam.

• At university level, the British Academy and British Council have consistently highlighted a growing shortage of language graduates, warning that the UK lacks the language capacity it needs across diplomacy, business, education, and healthcare.

• Moreover, 60% of secondary schools in England report challenges in recruiting qualified language teachers – with almost a third calling it a major issue.

The implications are clear: unless we take steps to nurture and support young people who are interested in languages, this trend will continue – and we’ll all feel the consequences.

In light of recent world events and the state of the political landscape, languages have never been more important than ever before. In an increasingly divided world, we desperately need more people who can BUILD BRIDGES. People who can foster cultural understanding, global communication, and connection in an increasingly polarised world.

So being able to speak to these bright, motivated students – and hopefully help them see the real-world relevance and value of languages – was a real honour. I hope that, in some small way, I may have inspired some of them to consider a future using languages, and played my (very) small part in nurturing the next generation of linguists.

• To the pupils who stopped by to ask about translation, interpreting, teaching, or working internationally: thank you for your thoughtful questions. I see so much potential in you.

• To the staff at Channing School: thank you for the warm welcome – it was a joy to return!

• And to my fellow linguists and language advocates: let’s keep showing up, keep sharing our stories, and keep supporting the next generation of language professionals.

  Because we need them more than ever.