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Citizens of a Multilingual World: Key Issues

Foreword

At the first meeting of the Action Group, it was agreed that we should spend time listening to as wide a range of views as possible on the state of languages education in our schools. The views that were expressed were wide and varied and were central to establishing the agenda for action contained within this report.

I was committed to making the work of the Group open and participative. The website that we established was a rich source of comment, debate and information. The Action Group listened carefully to the views received. I hope that our agenda for action reflects and addresses the concerns that were expressed across the country. This has been no mean task.

At the heart of our recommendations lies the need of students in schools. It is important that our proposals are seen as a package, which merits the support of those who can drive them forward. There are no quick fixes in what we propose. However, there is little doubt that Scottish students deserve better than at present. I am confident that we are setting a coherent national framework that will provide enhanced opportunities in languages education in Scotland.

The members of the Action Group and its officers and advisers are to be congratulated on their commitment to the task. They spent many hours listening to views, at meetings of the group and in drafting our report. What you read are the views of the Group as developed and drafted by them. I hope that our recommendations are supported by the Minister to whom I am pleased to submit our considered views.

John Mulgrew OBE
Chair, Languages Action Group

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