The Case for Languages

Language Learning Trends in the UK

Language learning in the UK is facing a sustained decline, with fewer students taking up foreign languages and a shrinking pool of qualified teachers. Despite growing interest in languages like Spanish and Mandarin, long-term trends show a significantly reduced uptake, particularly in French and German.

According to the British Council’s Language Trends 2024 report:

• Only 36% of state secondary schools now require a language at GCSE level.
• There’s an urgent shortage of qualified language teachers at all educational levels.
• Many students perceive languages as ‘too difficult’, which reveal the lack of strong foundational support at earlier educational stages.

Language learning in the UK is at a pivotal juncture. While there are some promising initiatives, systemic challenges persist that hinder the nation’s linguistic and cultural competencies.

At the Association of Translation Companies, we believe this poses a serious challenge – not only to cultural and global awareness but to the UK’s future workforce and international competitiveness. Strong language skills underpin international trade, diplomacy, education, and innovation. Research shows that investing in language learning could boost UK exports by up to £19 billion annually.

As the UK’s leading trade association for language service companies, our stance is clear: the UK needs a long-term, joined-up strategy to reframe language learning as a national priority. This includes:

• Championing early exposure to languages and continuity through education (National Consortium for Languages Education)
• Investing in language teachers and training (British Council’s Language Trends England 2024 report highlights the shortage of qualified)
• Promoting the value of multilingualism in careers and civic life (RAND – The Economic Value to the UK of Speaking Other Languages)
• Supporting community and heritage languages (Bilingualism Matters & Languages Gateway)
• Collaborating across sectors such as education, government and industry

Our focus at the ATC is on championing the long-term value of language skills within the professional ecosystem. As representatives of the UK’s language services industry, we understand first-hand how a multilingual workforce drives innovation, supports international trade and unlocks career opportunities in translation, interpreting, and localisation.

How can you get involved?

Everyone has a role to play in promoting the value of languages. These are some of the ways you can make a real difference:

• Share resources and information on career paths with young language learners
• Support school-university-industry partnerships
• Use your platform to advocate for the value of multilingualism
• Invite a speaker from the language industry to your institution
• Reach out to the ATC to collaborate on initiatives to support language learning

The ATC actively collaborates with universities to bridge the gap between education and industry, and supports initiatives that raise awareness of language careers among students, teachers, and parents (see helpful Language Careers Guides from the EUATC). By building these connections and reinforcing the relevance of languages beyond the classroom, the ATC continues to advocate for a future where language skills are not a nice-to-have but a strategic advantage.