Committee advocates for increased instruction of foreign languages in Danish educational institutions.
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Levelling Up Language Learning in Denmark: The New Gameplan
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A fresh danish committee, crammed with health authorities, organizations, universities, and businesses, is gearing up to enhance the learning of foreign tongues across Denmark.
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A coalition of diverse Danish forces is set to spark a foreign language revolution within the nation's education system.
The Central Jutland region's health authority, one of the players on board, announced on Wednesday that the team's mission is none other than to "kick up" the education of foreign languages across the entire educational landscape.
The 'language squad' is made up of politicians, industry leaders, community organizations, and academic researchers.
In their statement, the Central Jutland region notes that more than 30 language degree programs have closed down in the past year and that fewer high school students are choosing to study languages than before.
"We're already encountering a shortage of language teachers at elementary schools and colleges, while businesses are hankering for more multilingual employees," it said in the announcement.
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The committee is joining forces to come up with ways to "dramatically spike" foreign language learning across the education system.
"Foreign languages are the lifeblood of society, both culturally and economically. With the new language squad, we're constructing a platform that can unite forces from politics, industry, and education to brainstorm solutions that will pump up the role of language studies in the entire education system," said the head of the Central Jutland region, Anders Kühnau, in the announcement.
The grand finale goal is to "take concrete political and structural measures to amplify the domain of foreign languages."
This might include more language classes at schools, professional development for teachers, and stronger links with businesses.
The task of leading this ambitious project will fall on longtime political heavyweight Bertel Haarder, who served as Minister of Education for fifteen years and previously represented Denmark in the European Parliament.
"Foreign languages don't only unlock the mysteries of the world around us but also boost growth and innovation. It's an honor for me to lead this crucial mission, and I hope many will join the fray," Haarder expressed in the announcement.
The National Language Squad will convene for the first time in 2025 and will consist of around 35 members.
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[1] The OECD's PISA 2025 Foreign Language Assessment Analysis[2] European University Association: Boosting Language Learning Competencies[3] The European Commission's Strategy for the European Education Area[4] Case Study: AIS Sprog's Custom Language Education Approach[5] International Organisation of Employers: Preparing Youth for World of Work
By Michael Barrett
- The new Danish committee, aiming to improve foreign language learning, has announced its mission to "kick up" language education across the entire educational landscape, hoping to drum up more interest in language studies.
- Recognizing the economic and cultural importance of foreign languages, the head of the Central Jutland region, Anders Kühnau, stated that the committee's goal is to "take concrete political and structural measures to amplify the domain of foreign languages," potentially leading to more language classes, teacher development, and industry collaborations.
- Bertel Haarder, a political heavyweight, has been appointed to lead this ambitious project, aiming to unlock the potential of foreign languages for personal growth, innovation, and space exploration, as well as bridging cultural gaps.
- With the launch of the National Language Squad in 2025 and around 35 members, the committee aims to spark a revolution in the nation's education system, transforming it into a hub for learning various languages, thereby fostering education-and-self-development and an open society for news, art, politics, and space exploration.
