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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| German and French exams show drop | German and French exams show drop |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| One in five secondary schools is not presenting candidates for Higher German and one in 10 do not offer Higher French, BBC Scotland has learned. | One in five secondary schools is not presenting candidates for Higher German and one in 10 do not offer Higher French, BBC Scotland has learned. |
| Statistics obtained from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) also indicated an overall drop in uptake for these subjects over the past decade. | Statistics obtained from the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) also indicated an overall drop in uptake for these subjects over the past decade. |
| Candidates for Standard Grade and Intermediate German have dropped 40% in 10 years, with French falling 6%. | Candidates for Standard Grade and Intermediate German have dropped 40% in 10 years, with French falling 6%. |
| Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said this was a "historical analysis". | Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop said this was a "historical analysis". |
| More pupils were now taking modern language Highers than in previous years, she said. | More pupils were now taking modern language Highers than in previous years, she said. |
| A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the overall number had increased by more than 100 in the past year, to 6,374. | A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the overall number had increased by more than 100 in the past year, to 6,374. |
| Ms Hyslop acknowledged the popularity of individual languages was changing but denied fewer pupils were studying French. | Ms Hyslop acknowledged the popularity of individual languages was changing but denied fewer pupils were studying French. |
| A government spokesman said Ms Hyslop's remarks regarding numbers of French students referred to the past two years (2005/06 - 2007/08), and confirmed there had been a decline over the previous eight years. | |
| "French is up, German is down, but Spanish is up," she said. "So I think the issue is, why are young people choosing Spanish over German?" | "French is up, German is down, but Spanish is up," she said. "So I think the issue is, why are young people choosing Spanish over German?" |
| SQA figures showed candidates for the Higher German exam have fallen by 26% in 10 years. | SQA figures showed candidates for the Higher German exam have fallen by 26% in 10 years. |
| The decline emerged on the day the SQA exam season gets under way. | The decline emerged on the day the SQA exam season gets under way. |
| The number of students studying Spanish has increased, with 1,327 taking Higher Spanish exams in 2008, compared with 874 a decade ago. | The number of students studying Spanish has increased, with 1,327 taking Higher Spanish exams in 2008, compared with 874 a decade ago. |
| It is very important that we encourage and grow our expertise in foreign languages Scottish Chambers of Commerce spokesman | It is very important that we encourage and grow our expertise in foreign languages Scottish Chambers of Commerce spokesman |
| Standard Grade Spanish candidates have almost doubled in number over the same period. | Standard Grade Spanish candidates have almost doubled in number over the same period. |
| A decline in German and French study could present difficulties for Scottish businesses, as employers struggle to find staff with suitable language skills. | A decline in German and French study could present difficulties for Scottish businesses, as employers struggle to find staff with suitable language skills. |
| Secondary changes | Secondary changes |
| A spokesman for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: "It is very worrying if things are going downhill in this regard. As we move out of this recession the opportunities will be international. | A spokesman for the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said: "It is very worrying if things are going downhill in this regard. As we move out of this recession the opportunities will be international. |
| "We would be looking for Scottish firms to look outwards for international opportunities. It is very important that we encourage and grow our expertise in foreign languages." | "We would be looking for Scottish firms to look outwards for international opportunities. It is very important that we encourage and grow our expertise in foreign languages." |
| The fall in French and German is believed to be linked to a perception languages are difficult to learn and to a decision by the Scottish Executive in 2001 to scrap what was effectively a requirement that all secondary school pupils take languages for four years. | The fall in French and German is believed to be linked to a perception languages are difficult to learn and to a decision by the Scottish Executive in 2001 to scrap what was effectively a requirement that all secondary school pupils take languages for four years. |
| The move was sparked by concern that a policy of languages for all encouraged truancy and poor behaviour among pupils who had little interest. | The move was sparked by concern that a policy of languages for all encouraged truancy and poor behaviour among pupils who had little interest. |
| It's a risk not attempting to speak another language because it deprives you of job opportunities and business opportunities Wolfgang MoessingerConsul General for Germany in Scotland | It's a risk not attempting to speak another language because it deprives you of job opportunities and business opportunities Wolfgang MoessingerConsul General for Germany in Scotland |
| Teachers have told the BBC they believe young linguists are gravitating towards Spanish because of family holidays there and a perception it is more fashionable than German. | Teachers have told the BBC they believe young linguists are gravitating towards Spanish because of family holidays there and a perception it is more fashionable than German. |
| Ms Hyslop said the decline in the number of schools offering German and French would not prevent students making a choice about the languages they wished to study. | Ms Hyslop said the decline in the number of schools offering German and French would not prevent students making a choice about the languages they wished to study. |
| "Different schools are working together to deliver modern languages. | "Different schools are working together to deliver modern languages. |
| "There is choice because schools won't necessarily provide French teaching themselves, but it can be provided by other schools. | "There is choice because schools won't necessarily provide French teaching themselves, but it can be provided by other schools. |
| "That's exactly what local authorities are doing and that's probably why we're seeing an increase in the number of students taking Higher French despite a historical decline over the first 10 years of devolution." | "That's exactly what local authorities are doing and that's probably why we're seeing an increase in the number of students taking Higher French despite a historical decline over the first 10 years of devolution." |
| She noted that Mandarin Chinese was now available to students at Intermediate level, with Higher courses due to be launched in the coming year. | She noted that Mandarin Chinese was now available to students at Intermediate level, with Higher courses due to be launched in the coming year. |
| In the past 10 years the number of candidates for Standard Grade German or Intermediate exams - the modern alternative to Standard Grades - has slumped by 40% to 9,600. French has dropped by 6% to just under 36,000. | In the past 10 years the number of candidates for Standard Grade German or Intermediate exams - the modern alternative to Standard Grades - has slumped by 40% to 9,600. French has dropped by 6% to just under 36,000. |
| The number of takers for Latin has almost halved to 530. Gaelic is up by over a third, to 719 candidates. | The number of takers for Latin has almost halved to 530. Gaelic is up by over a third, to 719 candidates. |
| Spanish bucks the trend with candidates almost doubling to 5,000. | Spanish bucks the trend with candidates almost doubling to 5,000. |
| At Higher level, the number of candidates for French has dropped only fractionally to 4,600 in 10 years. But for German it is down by a quarter to 1,460. Spanish has almost caught up with German thanks to a rise of 52% to 1,330. Gaelic is up 8% to 219. | At Higher level, the number of candidates for French has dropped only fractionally to 4,600 in 10 years. But for German it is down by a quarter to 1,460. Spanish has almost caught up with German thanks to a rise of 52% to 1,330. Gaelic is up 8% to 219. |
| Wolfgang Moessinger, the Consul General for Germany in Scotland, described the number of schools offering German as "disappointing". | Wolfgang Moessinger, the Consul General for Germany in Scotland, described the number of schools offering German as "disappointing". |
| He said: "I think it's depriving young Scots of learning the language that is the most widely spoken within the EU. | He said: "I think it's depriving young Scots of learning the language that is the most widely spoken within the EU. |
| "It's a risk not attempting to speak another language because it deprives you of job opportunities and business opportunities." | "It's a risk not attempting to speak another language because it deprives you of job opportunities and business opportunities." |
| Germany has the fourth largest economy in the entire world and the largest in the EU. Mr Moessinger said one in every 100 of the workforce in the UK is in a company owned by a German organisation or in a job generated by commerce with Germany. | Germany has the fourth largest economy in the entire world and the largest in the EU. Mr Moessinger said one in every 100 of the workforce in the UK is in a company owned by a German organisation or in a job generated by commerce with Germany. |
| Sam Bennett, Glasgow manager of The Translation People, an independent translation company, said: "German is the language most frequently requested by clients. Many Germans speak English but it is greatly appreciated if documentation is in their mother tongue. | Sam Bennett, Glasgow manager of The Translation People, an independent translation company, said: "German is the language most frequently requested by clients. Many Germans speak English but it is greatly appreciated if documentation is in their mother tongue. |
| "Companies here try to present themselves properly when they do business abroad and think about how they are perceived by customers." | "Companies here try to present themselves properly when they do business abroad and think about how they are perceived by customers." |
| About 160,000 students will sit exams at all levels, from Standard Grades to Advanced Highers, during the SQA exam season, which ends on 12 June. | About 160,000 students will sit exams at all levels, from Standard Grades to Advanced Highers, during the SQA exam season, which ends on 12 June. |