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Wales makes foreign language progress

Kirsty Williams: Upturn in language study welcomed
Kirsty Williams: Upturn in language study welcomed

THE NUMBER of pupils learning Mandarin has more than doubled according to a new report on a drive to increase the use of modern foreign languages in Welsh schools.

In October 2015, the Welsh Government published Global Futures, a plan to improve and promote modern foreign languages in Wales, and on Wednesday, December 14, published a new report on the progress made.

The Education Secretary, Kirsty Williams, has also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Spanish Government to improve and promote the teaching and learning of the Spanish language in Wales.

The MOU builds on a range of activity being carried out in Wales by the Spanish Embassy Education Office.

Education Secretary Kirsty Williams said: “The benefits of learning another language are extensive, from gaining new linguistic skills to learning more about the culture of other nations.

“We are committed to working with a range of bodies, from language institutions, our universities, the teaching profession and others to continue to promote and raise the profile and benefits of modern foreign languages. We still have a long way to go, but this report clearly shows that the foundations are being laid to ensure that we will see an upturn in the take-up of modern foreign languages in years to come.”

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