WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has urged local people to start the new year with a pledge to learn a new language.
The MP has offered her support to a campaign to improve the teaching of languages in schools and to encourage more people to learn a foreign language.
And Dame Harriett has signed up for a Parliamentary challenge sponsored by Duolingo to learn Spanish this month in order to share any prize fund amongst local charities.
A report published this week shows that teaching of languages in schools continues to decline and there is a national shortage of specialist language teachers.
Dame Harriett said: “As someone who studied languages to degree level, I have always felt it helped me both in my career and in my leisure time and I wholeheartedly support any initiative which helps more people to study a foreign language at school or university.
“It is worrying to hear that the number of people learning languages is in decline and I feel that young people would be able to enhance their career opportunities with a second language.
“I’m not aware of specific challenges facing pupils who want to learn a language in West Worcestershire, but it is something that I will be checking on when I meet local head teachers.
