4 TheLinguistFEBRUARY/MARCHwww.iol.org.ukNEWS & EDITORIAL EDITOR'S LETTERThis is an historic issue as it will be the first to go online. After much research anddiscussion, we have chosen a platform that will make the e-version freely available to all for a limited period, enabling you to sharestories with friends and colleagues, or tointroduce them to the entire magazine (see iol.org.uk). Let us know what you think at . And do spread the word!Olympics fever is almost upon us; we have been trying to get hold ofinformation about the language preparations for London 2012 almostsince it won the bid in July 2005. A series of Games-related articlesplanned for this year begins with an analysis of the challenges oftranslating anti-doping texts (p.19), and a look at the inspirational Globe toGlobe festival on London's Southbank. The Globe theatre will be staging37 Shakespeare plays in 37 languages and when I spoke to the FestivalProducer, I asked him, among other things, how they convinced London2012 to fund this incredibly ambitious project (p.24). I can't help but beoptimistic that the organising committee's faith in this multilingualextravaganza is part of an increasingly positive attitude towards languagesthat is being both driven and harnessed by languages bodies such as theCIOL, the new Speak to the Future Campaign (p.6) and the nationwideuniversity language festivals (p.22), which really took off last year.On an equally uplifting note, we hear in this issue from the Institute'sprizewinners who were commended in 2011 for fostering the study oflanguages. Erik Hertog outlines the important work he, with colleagues fromthe CIOL and elsewhere, has been doing to secure equal access to justiceacross the EU, regardless of language (p.9); and Fabio Boccio describes theinnovative projects of Italian in Italy, including its cross-country research intolanguage teaching and social integration (p.12).Awards are an important way of raising the status and profile of languages,and the winner of the 2011 Times Stephen Spender Prize, Meghan Purvis,talks about her innovative approach to translating Beowulfon page 16.Awarded annually for poetry translation from any language into English, theprize is supported by The Timesin the hope of encouraging a newgeneration of literary translators. For readers who like other types of word puzzles, we are trialling a newLinguistcrossword, which will have a different language-related theme ineach issue (p.29). Do let us know what you think. Miranda MooreChief ExecutiveAlexandra Jones left the post of ChiefExecutive of the Chartered Institute ofLinguists and of the IoL Educational Trustat the end of December 2011. During heremployment, Alexandra helped to lay thefoundations for the Institute's futurestrategic focus, and consolidated itsorganisational and financial health. On behalf of the Institute, the Councilof the CIOL and the Board of IoLETexpress their appreciation of her hardwork and the contribution which shemade during her employment, and wishher well in her future career. Appointment of Acting Chief ExecutivesThe Council has appointed HilaryMaxwell-Hyslop (Director of Examinations)and Alan Peacock (Director ofMembership) as Joint Acting ChiefExecutive Officers. They will continue theirparticular responsibilities in regard to thework of the IoL Educational Trust and theChartered Institute, respectively.Tony Bell,Chair of CouncilStatementfrom theCouncil of the CIOL

Vol/51 No/1 2012FEBRUARY/MARCHTheLinguist5'The basic idea is that you learn a languagebest while you're engaged in a physical task,performing something tangible. What we'retrying to do is to see how you can engagepeople's motivations. The [French Digital]kitchen achieves this in a number of ways: first,we know young people like playing on theWii, it's fun having this kind of engagement.Second, this type of environment provideslearners with lots of choices. In British schoolsfewer and fewer students are deciding to learnforeign languages. I think we need to startfrom the idea of what motivates people.Paul Seedhouse: Learning a language is muchmore fun in the kitchen, 4/12/11 What thepapers say.[The Norman language] is now not spokenfluently by anyone under the age of 30 and isexpected to disappear within a generation. Dr Mari Jones, a leading linguist fromCambridge University, is attempting topreserve the language. "This is not work thatwe can leave until a metaphorical tomorrow:unless considerable support is given to thosepeople working to maintain and preserve theNorman French of the Channel Islands, it willdisappear within the next few decades."'Race Against Time to Record the LanguageSpoken by William the Conqueror before itDies Out', 8/12/11The latest from the languages worldRecommendations on languagelearning are published by EU Council An EU 'priority?'The Council of the European Union hasadopted a set of recommendations onlanguage learning and multilingualism,following a meeting of its Education Ministersin November. The document includes a pleafor both the European Commission andindividual member states to 'consider makinglanguage learning a priority area in the nextgeneration of EU programmes in the field ofeducation and training'.The result of intensive collaborationbetween the Commission and the PolishPresidency, the 'Council Conclusions onLanguage Competences to EnhanceMobility' lays out a series of measures aimed at enhancing mobility across memberstates, particularly in the areas of educationand employment.Member states are called on to broaden'the choice of languages offered ineducation and training, promoting theteaching of less widely used languages and(especially in border regions) the languagesof neighbouring countries, in order tofacilitate cultural, social and economicexchanges'. The Commission itself is invitedto submit a proposal 'for a possiblebenchmark on language competences, witha view to promoting continuousimprovement in language education'.Coming three years after the Resolution of21 November 2008 on a European strategyfor multilingualism, which asked memberstates to promote multilingualism in part toaid mobility and employability, the documenthas been promoted by the EU Commission as'a firm stand on languages'. It can bedownloaded at www.real-association.eu/sites/default/files/conclusionen.pdf.. A training course for primary andsecondary level teachers and teachertrainers interested in leading Europeanmobility projects will be held near Paris thissummer in French (25-29 June) and English(9-13 July). For further information about theFormoove course see www.formoove.eu.ABOVE: Androulla Vassiliou, the EC memberin charge of multilingualism, in BrusselsNEWS & EDITORIALThe Telegraph and others have reported thatthere are unacceptable variations in theability and training of doctors from abroadand that those with poor language skills arestill able to work in the NHS. This is a matterof great concern. But the responsibility forremedying it lies with the UK authorities andemployers. There is nothing in EU rules.which prevents them doing so. 'Brussels will Welcome a Stronger SafetyNet', 20/1/12© EUROPEANUNION, 2012