有些人覺(jué)得學(xué)外語(yǔ)這件事既有趣又實(shí)用摔癣。但一項(xiàng)研究發(fā)現(xiàn)蝴韭，目前正在學(xué)習(xí)外語(yǔ)的英國(guó)中學(xué)生人數(shù)與本世紀(jì)初相比下降了 45%抠忘，導(dǎo)致這一變化的因素有哪些陆蟆？青少年的外語(yǔ)水平是否會(huì)影響他們的國(guó)際競(jìng)爭(zhēng)力江锨？在英國(guó)砰粹，哪幾門(mén)外語(yǔ)的熱度近年來(lái)有明顯的提升孵稽？本集Take Away English通過(guò)講述因?qū)W習(xí)外語(yǔ)而獲益的幾個(gè)真人真事政模，分析外語(yǔ)學(xué)習(xí)的重要性呐粘。
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As you probably know, learning a foreign language is sometimes challenging. But it can also be fun. We spend hundreds of hours at school trying to get our tongues round different vocabulary and grammar in order to earn a qualification. But learning to speak a second language is more than just passing an exam – it opens doors to new opportunities, helps you to communicate with others and makes travelling overseas more fulfilling.
It might come as a surprise that, according to research by the BBC, the number of teenagers learning foreign languages in UK secondary schools has dropped by 45% since the turn of the millennium. German and French have fallen the most. While these languages from two of the UK's closest trading partners have declined at GCSE level, there has been a noticeable surge in some others, such as Spanish and Mandarin.
Another survey of secondary schools suggests a third of students have dropped at least one language from their GCSE exam options. There are many reasons for this, including a perception by some students that languages are difficult. Getting to grips with the lingo of another country can certainly be a challenge and some pupils think 'Why bother?' when English is spoken by hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Others have questioned the need for a second language when translation technology is advancing.
Matthew Fell, chief UK policy director for business group the CBI, has told the BBC that "The decline in language learning in schools must be reversed, or else the UK will be less competitive globally and young people less prepared for the modern world." But even for those who are keen to study another language, the opportunity is being reduced. In Scotland, for example, foreign language subjects are being squeezed out of many secondary school timetables with some head teachers blaming pressure on the curriculum.
However, some native English speakers have told the BBC about the benefits of speaking another tongue. Cassandra Scott, from Edinburgh, studied three languages in her final year at school. She is now a freelance translator in Edinburgh, and says "Learning languages at school really set the course for my career."
vocabulary
foreign language 外語(yǔ)
get your tongue round something “舌頭轉(zhuǎn)過(guò)彎來(lái)”满俗，正確發(fā)出…音
vocabulary 詞匯
grammar 語(yǔ)法
qualification 資格證書(shū)，文憑
second language 第二語(yǔ)言
open doors to something 為（新事物）敞開(kāi)大門(mén)作岖，使…成為可能
millennium 千禧一代唆垃，千禧年
German 德語(yǔ)
French 法語(yǔ)
noticeable 明顯的，顯著的
surge
n. 洶涌;大浪痘儡，波濤
v. 洶涌;起大浪辕万，蜂擁而來(lái)
Spanish 西班牙語(yǔ)
Mandarin 普通話
perception 知覺(jué)，觀念
get to grips with 理解沉删，掌握
lingo 外語(yǔ)
translation 翻譯
be keen to 熱衷于...
foreign language subject 外語(yǔ)學(xué)科
be squeezed out of 被...擠掉
blame pressure on... 怪罪于...
curriculum 全部課程
native English speaker 英語(yǔ)為母語(yǔ)者
tongue 語(yǔ)言
freelance translator 自由譯者渐尿，翻譯家
set the course for 為…指明方向
career 職業(yè)
make sentences
Having a degree in Economics certainly opens doors to jobs in the banking sector.
I thought my Italian penfriend said she was building a house, not moving house! Her message must have got lost in translation.
My son has chosen to study three languages at school so he can eventually get a job as a translator at the UN!
I just can't get to grips with this new computer software, I'm going to have to phone IT support.
Although I speak Russian with my wife and her family, my mother tongue is actually English.
question
Which languages have seen the biggest decline in British students learning them?
answer
In the UK, the number of teenagers learning foreign languages in UK secondary schools has dropped by 45% since the turn of the millennium, with German and French falling the most.
@BBC Learning English
