Birgit Smith
@birgit2014.bsky.social
Former Director of Language Studies at Lancaster University. Continuing to teach German language and culture at the OU, just for fun.. Interested in languages, but also medical science.
Another year of SATs tests in English and Maths for 10 year olds over. Has anyone ever researched if these tests improve attainment? Improve schools? Has Ofsted improved schools? Cost benefit? But more mental health support? Kids and teachers need it, not in 2030, but now.
Editors should be required to post the corrections in the same size, on the same page, as the original false article.
Nick Reeves #FBPE #NAFO@nickreeves.bsky.social · last yr.Here is the Sun's pitifully small apology for its lie about benefits tourism - a lie that was accepted as truth by millions and helped deliver Brexit. These lies are perverting our democracy. At a minimum, apologies should be published in the same location and size as the lie.
3 May 1945: The ship 'Cap Arcona', laden with concentration camp survivors, is sunk by British bombers in the Baltic www.ndr.de/geschichte/c... via @ndr.de
Bomben auf die "Cap Arcona": Briten versenken am 3. Mai 1945 Schiff mit evakuierten KZ-Häftlingen
Kurz vor Kriegsende, am 3. Mai 1945, versenken Briten die "Cap Arcona" und die "Thielbek" in der Lübecker Bucht. Sie vermuten deutsche Truppen auf den Schiffen - ein Irrtum: An Bord sind 7.500 KZ-Häft...
ndr.de
Troubling times ahead. Re-energize in nature and challenge the lies.
Multilingual capabilities are integral to research excellence, impact and integrity in a globalised and connected research environment. Diverse language skills enrich and expand research across all academic disciplines. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...
Multilingualism in UK academic research
This report evidences the recognition, role and use of multilingualism in UK academic research fields outside Modern Languages.
thebritishacademy.ac.uk
Great ideas to connect students. However, AI moves very quickly, and universities do not. Questioning the environmental impact is valid, but hasn't that ship sailed?
OU WELS Praxis@welspraxis.bsky.social · last yr.Our last presentation at today’s event, ’Inspiring Digital Futures: Meeting the Needs of TikTok Generation Learners in Online Spaces’ is by Helen Lee, exploring study experiences of students aged 18–25 @azumahcarol.bsky.social @openuniversity.bsky.social #DigitalLearning #InspiringDigitalFutures
Looking forward to ' Innovative technology to create a sense of community'.
OU WELS Praxis@welspraxis.bsky.social · last yr.We’re thrilled that all tickets for Inspiring Digital Futures have GONE! Excited to welcome our incredible speakers with keynote @achalagupta.bsky.social + Olivia Kelly, Danielle Pullen & Helen Lee, for discussions on engaging the TikTok generation in online learning! #InspiringDigitalFutures
Great news for German rail passengers!
German Embassy London@uk.diplo.de · last yr.With train punctuality at a record low and passenger frustration soaring, Germany's railways are looking to the UK for inspiration. They're introducing Britain's tea time alarm to help ease tempers & encourage passengers to unwind with a comforting cuppa while enjoying the view.
Europe’s language revolution, now more visible than ever www.brusselstimes.com/1464390/euro... via @brusselstimes.com #langsky
Europe’s language revolution, now more visible than ever
How successful are European countries at unifying their populations linguistically? Europe’s rapid linguistic transformation can now be answered in a few clicks.
brusselstimes.com
Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Wonderful news! It's great that the department I spent my whole academic life in gets the recognition it deserves. Great students, great colleagues!
School of Global Affairs at Lancaster University@globalaffairslu.bsky.social · last yr.We are delighted to announce that Modern Languages at Lancaster University has moved up to joint 66th globally and is situated within the top ten for UK institutions in the latest QS World Rankings by Subject 2025! www.lancaster.ac.uk/global-affai...
@globalaffairslu.bsky.social come on German students, shout out for German! #shoutoutforgerman
German Embassy London@uk.diplo.de · last yr.This week let's celebrate the German language! 👉 Your favourite German word? 👉 That incredible trip to Deutschland? 👉 Your German teacher, aka the best teacher of all time? Use #ShoutOutForGerman and show everyone what German means to you!
The value of studying languages and cultures.
UCFL - University Council For Languages@ucflangs.bsky.social · last yr."Modern languages departments are neither colonial nor obsolete" An article by @ucflangs.bsky.social, @ilcs.bsky.social & @uniofstandrews.bsky.social on the value of the study of languages, cultures & societies today, responding to a recent opinion piece. www.timeshighereducation.com/opinion/mode...
Shout-out to all the German teachers in the UK 🫡 From 17-21 March, join our week-long celebration of the German language by using #ShoutOutForGerman to showcase the amazing things you do in your classrooms to get students excited about learning German!
So looking forward to this conference. The call for papers is still open for those interested - it will be in person and online on 2-3 May. Hope to maybe see some of you in Uzbekistan! Website is being updated ongoing. fltal.org
FLTAL
FLTAL
fltal.org
www.spiegel.de/politik/deut...
Berlin, Mainz, Düsseldorf: Zehntausende Menschen demonstrieren gegen rechts
Am Wochenende sind in vielen deutschen Städten wieder Menschen gegen rechte Politik und für die Demokratie auf die Straße gegangen. In Berlin versammelten sich rund 30.000 Demonstrierende.
spiegel.de
Da hat sich die GB Regierung wieder ein Eigentor geschossen.
Kit Yates@kityates.bsky.social · last yr.“A fall in international students applying for visas risks prolonging the existential threat facing some of England’s universities.”
Please support researchers in the US. Thank you.
Lisa Schiff@lschiff.bsky.social · last yr.Thank you for raising this. Many of us are resisting: please sign the open Declaration To #DefendResearch Against US Gov Censorship! Sign now! Share everywhere! Help make this action go viral! #scholcomm #academisky #academichatter #sciencesky #openscience tinyurl.com/3bwuc38f
I just signed this declaration. If you think this is an important matter, please join us and sign it too!
Lisa Schiff@lschiff.bsky.social · last yr.Thank you for raising this. Many of us are resisting: please sign the open Declaration To #DefendResearch Against US Gov Censorship! Sign now! Share everywhere! Help make this action go viral! #scholcomm #academisky #academichatter #sciencesky #openscience tinyurl.com/3bwuc38f
Is the lack of language learning coming home to roost? Fewer kids take GCSE and A levels in languages, and universities have reduced degree programmes. In the EU, everyone learns at least 2 foreign languages. When will the UK wake up?
Erik Hansson@erikhansson.bsky.social · last yr.Over 60,000 Foreigners Could Lose Their Right to Remain in France Due to New Language Requirements schengen.news/over-60000-f... via schengen.news #France #immigrants #language #langsky
Today is National School Governors Awareness Day. Governors are the largest volunteer force in the country. We all bring lots of dedication and commitment and give our time, energy, and expertise to help schools thrive across the country.
Exciting news! 🌟 The call for proposals for the International Albinism Conference at Lancaster University in September 2025 is now open. www.lancaster.ac.uk/global-affai...
CfP: International Conference on Albinism at Lancaster University, September 2025 - Lancaster University
To mark 10 years of the mandate of the Independent Expert on the Rights of Persons with Albinism, Professor Charlotte Baker from the School of Global Affairs is co-organising an in-person conference t...
lancaster.ac.uk
It's not a risk, it's the reality. Humanities have been ornaments all over in the last decade. Now it's already too late to modify anything, unless a significant, radical and rather revolutionary change may occur in Higher Education curricula and, above all, management.
Times Higher Education (THE)@timeshighered.bsky.social · 2y agoThe humanities risk becoming “ornaments” on science-focused university course portfolios as they take a “disproportionate” hit from the UK sector funding crisis, public historian @davidolusoga.bsky.social has warned. @julietterowsell.bsky.social reports #highered #EduSky
"Cardiff has embraced the entirely bizarre proposition that the global and transtemporal examination of culture is possible even without the provision of languages at degree level. There are very many reasons why this is alarming." 👇👇
Cardiff’s closure of modern languages will tongue-tie its humanities
The global examination of culture is not possible without languages at degree level, say Wendy Ayres-Bennett, Charles Burdett and Emma Cayley
timeshighereducation.com
Join our seminar next Friday (14 Feb) led by Charlotte Ryland, looking at the Languages Gateway, its purpose and how it can function in the most effective way possible 👇
Thinking Strategically: The Languages Gateway
ilcs.sas.ac.uk
Margot Finn@eicathomefinn.bsky.social · 2y agoWant to know mores about the crisis in Languages? Consider consulting some of the many professionals who have devoted years to this subject. For example, check out the Languages Gateway: www.thelanguagesgateway.uk/who-this-web... and these reports: www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/programmes/l... 2/3
How can we stop this 'catastrophic decline in language learning'?
Institute of Languages, Cultures and Societies@ilcs.bsky.social · 2y ago“The single biggest problem facing our country is the catastrophic decline in language learning, both in schools and now at universities”- Nick Hillman, director of the Higher Education Policy Institute (HEPI)
