Community Languages: Mapping Provision and Matching Needs in Higher Education in England

Abstract

This article presents the main findings and recommendations from a study investigating provision for community language learning in higher education in England (McPake & Sachdev, 2008). Changing attitudes towards the value of community languages – defined as ‘all languages in use in a society, other than the dominant, official or national language’ (McPake, 2006) – have led to increased opportunities for schoolchildren to study and acquire formal qualifications in some of the most widely spoken community languages in England. However, earlier research (McPake et al, 2007a) indicated that opportunities to continue these studies at university level are currently only patchily available. The aim of the study reported here was therefore to map provision in this sector and to consider how it might be developed to meet emerging demand.