Event in Nottingham: Day 3
Some conference sessions leave you with pages of notes. Others leave you with something much more valuable: renewed enthusiasm. The Language Outreach session was exactly that. Listening to passionate speakers champion the future of language learning in the UK was genuinely uplifting. With conviction, optimism, and more than a little determination, they made the case that languages are not a dying subject—they are a vital skill that connects people, opens doors, and creates opportunities. It was impossible not to be inspired.
Connecting the Language Community
Professor Nicola McLelland, Professor of German at the University of Nottingham, opened with a striking question: How many language-related events take place across the UK every year? The answer surprised many of us: almost 2,000. The real challenge, however, isn’t a lack of opportunities—it’s making sure people actually know they exist. From spelling competitions to Mandarin Excellence Days and countless outreach activities, there is already an incredible amount happening. The question is how to bring all this information together so that teachers, pupils, parents, and schools can easily find and benefit from it. The solution? Practical, targeted outreach. Whether it’s university students visiting schools to share their own language-learning journeys, inviting school groups onto campus, or organising online events, the goal is simple: meet people where they are and show them why languages matter.
Beyond Grammar
One message resonated throughout the session: languages are about far more than grammar. Students often hear that artificial intelligence will soon replace language skills. But the speakers challenged this narrative with real-life examples of careers where language ability made the decisive difference. Languages are about communication, cultural understanding, and human connection—qualities that technology alone cannot replace. After all, isn’t there something wonderfully open-minded about being able to say “thank you” in someone else’s language? It is more than an ice breaker—it is the firewood that keeps the flame of connection burning, a small gesture that can warm hearts and build the strongest connections. Field experiences, exchanges, and encounters with people from different cultures remind us that communication is, and always will be, at the heart of language learning.
Communication Is Key
This theme was reinforced by Dawn Piper, Curriculum Coordinator for Languages at Littleover Community School and a National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy (NCELP) Specialist Teacher. Her message was clear: Communication is key. At her school of around 1,850 students, young people take examinations not only in languages commonly taught in schools but also in community languages such as Polish, Greek, and Punjabi. It was a wonderful reminder that multilingualism is already part of everyday life in many British schools. Dawn also highlighted the importance of involving parents and linking languages with future careers. Students are often motivated when they can clearly see how languages fit into their ambitions—whether in business, international organisations, tourism, engineering, or countless other professions. Rather than competing with STEM subjects, languages should be presented as the skill that complements them all.
Languages: A Superpower
One image from Dawn’s presentation stayed with me: languages as a superpower. It’s a simple but powerful metaphor. Languages help us solve problems, build relationships, understand different perspectives, and navigate an increasingly interconnected world. They don’t just open classroom doors—they open career opportunities, friendships, and experiences that would otherwise remain out of reach. Through collaborations with careers advisers, international school trips—such as visits to Berlin—and strong local and national networks, schools are showing students that languages are not just another subject on the timetable. They are a passport to the world.
Leaving Inspired
What made this session so memorable wasn’t just the information it shared—it was the passion behind it. Every speaker demonstrated an unwavering commitment to promoting language learning in the UK and building networks that support teachers, students, universities, and schools alike. At a time when language education often faces challenges, it was refreshing to hear such positive, energetic voices making the case for multilingualism.If there was one takeaway from the session, it was this: Languages don’t simply help us communicate. They connect us with people, cultures, opportunities—and with each other.
What made Dawn Piper’s presentation particularly memorable was not only the enthusiasm with which she spoke, but the ripple effect her message has created. She shared that one of her own students was so inspired by the idea of languages as a superpower that she decided to take that message beyond the classroom. The student presented the concept during a poster session in Birmingham, encouraging others to see languages not simply as another school subject, but as a powerful tool for communication, opportunity, and understanding. To me, this perfectly captured what language outreach is all about. It’s not just about increasing enrolment numbers or promoting language courses—it’s about inspiring young people to become ambassadors themselves. When students begin sharing that enthusiasm with their peers, the message becomes far more powerful than any presentation alone. The Birmingham poster session was a wonderful example of this in action, bringing together creative ideas and passionate advocates for language learning. We’ll be sharing more about that inspiring event in a separate blog post.