University Magazine

French and German have fallen most.

Fewer secondary schools in England are meeting a government target on pupils taking a GCSE in a modern foreign language, a survey suggests.

Ministers want schools to have “between 50% and 90%” of pupils taking a modern foreign language at GCSE.

But a survey for The National Centre for Languages (Cilt) suggests only 40% of state schools meet this target - and that the trend is downwards.

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Children who regularly use the abbreviated language of text messages are actually improving their ability to spell correctly, research suggests.

A study of eight to 12 year olds found that rather than damaging reading and writing, “text speak” is associated with strong literacy skills.

Researchers say text language uses word play and requires an awareness of how sounds relate to written English.

This link between texting and literacy has proved a surprise, say researchers.

These latest findings of an ongoing study at the University of Coventry contradict any expectation that prolonged exposure to texting will erode a child’s ability to spell.

Read the whole article here.