As you probably know, The Publishing Cupboard is based in Glasgow. It was interesting to hear the reports on the news yesterday about the decline of language learning in schools in Scotland. French is on the decline with Spanish becoming a more popular option.
The decline has happened because it is no longer compulsory to study a foreign language at secondary school. However, primary school pupils are all learning languages which doesn't sound like joined-up thinking.
What I found even more fascinating was the reason why a pupil reckoned studying a foreign language was a harder option than other subjects. It was because you had to learn so much. You had to memorise all those words (add to that the genders of words).
I hadn't really thought about it that way, but it is something to bear in mind. Perhaps language learning could be marketed as good brain-training to stave off alzheimers and general old age. More thoughts to follow. . .
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