Annual Languages Conference Liverpool October 2006

1. Annual Languages Conference Liverpool October 2006

2. Where we stand • Perceptions and facts • What can be done

3. Where we stand ●Spanish in the examination results: based on provisional figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications

4. Where we stand ●Spanish in the examination results: based on provisional figures from the Joint Council for Qualifications

5.  Where we stand ●Spanish at all levels: Language Proportion of total learner numbers Language Trends 2005 – Adult Language Learning in England • is Spanish taught at the school? The Consejería contacted 2,510primary schools HE Table 2: Higher Education language students in the UK by language UK, EU and overseas domiciled students 2,832 primary schools in England provided some kind of teaching of Spanish last year YES 12% Sep 05 4% NO 84%

6. Perceptions and Facts ●Difficult ●Not cool ●Not necessary ●Not relevant ●Not worthwhile

7. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is easy ●43,79 % say Spanish is easy to learn ●44,64 % say the language they are studying is easy as well Is it hard? Spanish is extremely accessible. It's easy to pronounce and, unlike the …., the Spanish have no hang-ups about importing English words. Clare Rudebeck, The Independent 27 February 2003

8. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is easy Who are the best people at making friends? 2 3 ●ITALIAN ● CHINESE ● BRITISH ●SPANISH ●FRENCH ●GERMAN 5 4 1 6

9. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is easy Who are the best people at showing respect for other cultures? 1 4 ●ITALIAN ● CHINESE ● BRITISH ●SPANISH ●FRENCH ●GERMAN 3 5 2 6

10. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is cool Jennifer López, Raul, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, A. Banderas, Ricky Martin, Reyes, Ronaldo, Casillas, Penélope Cruz, Morientes, Fernando Alonso, Ronaldinho, Cesc Fábregas fiesta – siesta - paella – sangría – tortilla – amigo - salsa – tapas – flamenco – playa - agua – por favor

11. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is cool Which is the best country to spend a holiday with friends or family? 1 2 ●ITALY ● CHINA ● UK ●SPAIN ●FRANCE ●GERMANY 5 3 4 6

12. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is cool Which country you think you will visit in the next five years? 1 ●ITALY ● CHINA ● None 3 ●SPAIN ●FRANCE ●GERMANY 5 2 4 6

13. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is necessary Some 47,000 Britons, equivalent to the entire population of a town the size of Kettering or Hereford, signed on as new residents at Spanish town halls last year. That brought the registered British population in Spain to 274,000 - equivalent to a city the size of Bradford or Leicester. But experts estimate that up to three times as many Britons, about 750,000 people, spend a significant part of the year living in Spain Giles Tremlett in Madrid. Thursday July 27, 2006The Guardian

14. Perceptions and Facts *Spanish for Where is the beach? Even a little Spanish can make a lot of difference

15. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is relevant • Nearly 17 million British tourists visited Spain last year and the number is increasing • 40% of the students in the survey said that either friends or family (or both) own propierty in Spain. • International passenger traffic between Spain and UK: 34.5 million in 2005 only • More low cost flights are opened every year

16. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is worthwhile Which of the following airports is operated by a Spanish company? Bristol – Gatwick – Belfast – Stanstead – Heathrow - Luton Which of the following airports is operated by a Spanish company? Bristol – Gatwick – Belfast – Stanstead – Heathrow - Luton Which of the following companies is not Spanish? O2 – Zara – Camper – Abbey Bank – Old El Paso – Porcelanosa - Repsol

17. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is worthwhile Which of the following airports is operated by a Spanish company? Bristol – Gatwick – Belfast – Stanstead – Heathrow - Luton Which of the following companies is not Spanish? O2 – Zara – Camper – Abbey Bank – Old El Paso – Porcelanosa - Repsol

18. Perceptions and Facts ●Spanish is worthwhile Which of the products below appear in the top five positions in the ranking of imports from Spain into the UK? 3 ●CITRUS ●SHOES ●WINE 8 ●MEDICINES ●CARS ●TOMATOES 1 12 7 9

19. What can be done ●Languages Work Spanish ●Spanish online courses - MEC grants ●Solid links with Spain ●GCSE courses in Spain ●Go Spanish the Seminar