| Submit your comments on this article |
| Britain |
| Urdu will be taught in UK state schools |
| 2007-02-05 |
| British teenagers will be able to learn languages such as Mandarin and Urdu as the government tries to make classes more relevant in an age of globalisation, officials said on Sunday. Students have to study a second language between the ages of 11 and 14, although many state schools only offer European languages such as French, German and Spanish. But Education Secretary Alan Johnson is now set to accept an official recommendation that major languages from around the world are routinely offered alongside these. Johnson said that Mandarin or Urdu could be “as important” as European languages in the global economy. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Will they learn English? |
| Posted by: James 2007-02-05 16:58 |
| #4 Students have to study a second language ..." Yes, but theres no statement that urdu is the ONLY choice available. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2007-02-05 15:49 |
| #3 I love the modern age and newspeak. First the carrot - "British teenagers will be able to learn languages such as Mandarin and Urdu ..." Then the stick - "Students have to study a second language ..." |
| Posted by: Urdu you do Mrs Robinson 2007-02-05 11:36 |
| #2 Urdu and Arabic represent the same version of "globalization" as a Mongol invasion. |
| Posted by: Excalibur 2007-02-05 09:22 |
| #1 Gosh, the students who learn Urdu will be able to understand the Friday sermons and the Muslim gansta raps. Taqqiya is a lot harder when one can't hide behind a false translation. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2007-02-05 06:01 |