Ten Ways the UK Can Strengthen Language Learning
Across the UK, conversations about language education often sound gloomy: fewer students are studying languages, university departments are closing, and many assume that “English is enough.” Yet behind this discouraging picture lies a very different reality: people still want to learn languages—they just need the right pathways and opportunities.
📉 The Challenge Facing the UK
A recent report from the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI) highlights the urgent situation:
- Enrollment in modern languages at A-Level has dropped below 3%.
- Socioeconomic gaps mean students from disadvantaged backgrounds are less likely to continue with languages.
- Since 2014, 28 university language departments have closed their doors.
This decline comes at a time when global communication and cultural understanding matter more than ever, and when technology is providing new tools for learning that didn’t exist a decade ago.
📈 Signs of Hope
Despite falling numbers in schools, interest hasn’t disappeared. In fact, the UK is second in the world for learners who study multiple languages on platforms like Duolingo. And the most enthusiastic learners are under 22, with rising demand for Japanese, Korean, and Chinese.
This suggests that what’s missing isn’t motivation—it’s structure and recognition. Young people are curious and self-motivated, but without strong pathways to formal qualifications or university opportunities, their enthusiasm too often fades.
🔑 Building Bridges, Not Barriers
Language learning should not be treated as an optional extra. It is:
- A bridge across cultures, helping us understand one another.
- A competitive advantage, opening opportunities in international business, diplomacy, and research.
- A tool for inclusion, supporting heritage languages and communities who bring diverse linguistic skills to the UK.
What’s needed is a national strategy that connects the dots: between self-study apps and classroom recognition, between heritage language speakers and formal certification, and between early enthusiasm and career opportunities.
📝 Ten Recommendations for Change
The HEPI report outlines ten actionable steps to reverse the decline. These include:
- Recruiting and retaining more language teachers to address shortages.
- Creating clearer qualification pathways that reward language learners from GCSE to university.
- Investing in university departments so they remain sustainable.
- Supporting British Sign Language as part of the UK’s linguistic landscape.
- Valuing heritage and community languages, not just “traditional” European ones.
- Expanding access programs so that all students, regardless of background, can pursue languages.
- Encouraging schools to partner with technology providers to make learning more flexible.
- Integrating language skills into career preparation, especially in business and international fields.
- Promoting multilingualism in government and public service, modeling its importance.
- Raising awareness of global opportunities—study abroad, exchange programs, and international internships.
🤝 A Shared Responsibility
At DET Study, we believe language learning is a lifelong skill and a gateway to global opportunity. While platforms like Duolingo can spark curiosity, lasting change requires collaboration:
- Policymakers must prioritize funding and access.
- Schools and universities must keep language options open.
- Innovators must continue developing accessible tools.
- And learners themselves must be encouraged to see languages as valuable for their personal and professional growth.
🌍 Final Thoughts
The UK is at a crossroads. Language education can either continue to decline—or it can be reimagined as a vibrant, inclusive, and globally relevant part of the curriculum.
With the right investment and strategy, languages will not just survive, but thrive—helping the UK connect more deeply with the world, compete in international markets, and build a society that is outward-looking and empathetic.
📊 Quick-Read Infographic: Ten Ways Forward
For a visual summary, here are the ten recommendations at a glance:
1️⃣ Hire and retain more teachers
2️⃣ Create clear learning-to-university pathways
3️⃣ Keep university departments open and funded
4️⃣ Expand British Sign Language opportunities
5️⃣ Recognize heritage & community languages
6️⃣ Increase access for disadvantaged students
7️⃣ Partner schools with tech tools for learning
8️⃣ Connect languages with career preparation
9️⃣ Promote multilingualism in government/public service
🔟 Raise awareness of global study & exchange programs
