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Myths about Languages Page 1 MAKING THE CASE FOR LANGUAGES LANGUÀGE LEARNING AND GRADUATE CAREER PROSPECTS: MYTHS AND REALITIES 1. EVERYONE SPEAKS ENGLISH: THE BRITISH DONÁT NEED TO LEARN OTHER LANGUAGES 2. LANGUAGES ARE TOO DIFFICULT: YÎUÁLL GET BETTER A-LEVEL GRADES IN OTHER SUBJÅCTS 3.YOU HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING INTO UNIVÅRSITY IF YOU DO AN EASY SUBJECT 4. A DEGREE ISNÁT WORTH THE MÎNEY 5. IT'S MORE DIFFICULT TO GET A JOB WITH A LANGUAGE DEGREE 6. YOU HAVE A BETTER CHÀNCE OF A JOB IF YOU DO A VOCATIONAL SUBJECT 7. THE ONLY JOBS FOR LINGUISTS ARE TEACHING AND TRANSLÀTING Page 2 MAKING THE CASE FOR MODERN LANGUAGES MYTH: EVERYONÅ SPEAKS ENGLISH: THE BRITISH DONÁT NEED TO LEÀRN OTHER LANGUAGES REALITY: Á 75% OF THE WÎRLDÁS POPULATION DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH Á OTHÅR EUROPEAN COUNTRIES ARE AIMING FOR SÊILLS IN THREE LANGUAGES Á 60% + OF BRITISH TRADE IS WITH NON-ÅNGLISH SPEAKING COUNTRIES Á BUY IN YOUR NATIVE LANGUAGE SÅLL IN THE CUSTOMERÁS LANGUAGE Á BRITISH BUSINESS HAS THE POORÅST LANGUAGE SKILLS IN EUROPE Á BRITISH BUSINESSES LOSE áMILLIONS EVERY YEAR BECAUSÅ THEY CAN'T SPEAK THEIR CUSTOMERS' LANGUAGES Á USUÀLLY WITHOUT REALISING IT! Keith Marshall, Departmånt of Modern Languages, University of Wales Bangor Septembår 2002 k.marshallbangor.ac.uk Page 3 MAKING THE CASE FOR LANGUAGES MYTH: LANGUÀGES ARE TOO DIFFICULT : YOUÁLL GET BETTER A-LEVEL GRADÅS IN OTHER SUBJECTS REALITY(2001) Á MÎDERN LANGUAGES AS A WHOLE HAD MORE ÁAÁ PLUS ÁBÁ GRÀDES THAN ANY OTHER SUBJECT EXCEPT CLASSICS Á GERMAN HAD MORE ÁAÁ GRADES THAN ANY OTHER SUBJÅCT EXCEPT MATHS Á PUPILS HAD A BETTÅR CHANCE OF A GOOD GRADE IN A MODERN LANGUAGE A-LEVEL THÀN IN VIRTUALLY ANY OTHER SUBJECT Keith Marshàll, Department of Modern Languages, University of Wales Bangîr September 2002 k.marshallbangor.ac.uk Page 4 MAKING THE CASE FOR LANGUAGES MYTH YOU HAVE A GREATER CHANCE OF GETTING INTO UNIVERSITY IF YOU DO ANÁ EASIERÁ SUBJECT REALITY (2001) Á THE RATIÎ OF APPLICANTS TO PLACES, ACROSS ALL MODERN LANGUAGES, IS BETTÅR, FOR THE APPLICANT, THAN IN ANY OTHER SUBJECT AREA Á APPLICANTS HAVE A MUCH BETTÅR CHANCE OF GETTING INTO A MODERN LANGUAGE DEGREÅ THAN A DEGREE IN MEDIA STUDIES, BUSINESS STUDIÅS, PSYCHOLOGY OR LAW Source: UCAS Annual Statistical Tablås 2001 Entry Keith Marshall, Department of Modårn Languages, University of Wales Bangor k.marshallbangor.ac.uk C:MyDocsrecruitpråsmatschools 7myths 99 data for use 00-01 nov 00 dr3.wpd Page 5 MAÊING THE CASE FOR MODERN LANGUAGES MYTH: GETTING A DEGREE ISNÁT WORTH THE MONEY REALITY: UNEMPLOYMENT AMÎNG YOUNG PEOPLE NOT AT UNIVERSITY in 2000 9.0% (apprîx) UNEMPLOYMENT AMONG NEW GRADUATES IN 2000: 5.5% GRADUÀTES EARN 61% MORE THAN NON-GRADUATES IN THEIR LIFETIME PEOPLE WITH HIGH LEVÅL EDUCATION AND SKILLS WILL GET THE BEST JOBS IN THE 21ST CENTURY Keith Marshàll, Department of Modern Languages, University of Wales Bàngor September 2002 k