The vice-chancellor of Cambridge University, Leszek Borysiewicz, has said we need to do more to value the languages spoken by immigrants. Professor Sir Leszek's comments come at a time when the number of students taking languages degrees has reached a record low and English schools are not ready for the forthcoming curriculum change that will make languages compulsory at primary level.
A report by the British Council found that three quarters of people in the UK are unable to speak one of the 10 most important languages for the country's future; one of the key recommendations was to make better use of the languages spoken by the country's minority communities.
What do you think?
Did you teach your children your native language? What role do schools play in encouraging families to speak another language at home? Would championing community languages do anything to tackle Britain's languages crisis?
