Language lecturers concerned by A-Level marking

University lecturers have expressed their concern over harsh and unpredictable marking of modern languages examinations in school discouraging pupils from taking the subjects at A-level. 

Ofqual has been told by university lecturers in modern languages that British graduates are losing out in the job market because of the inadequate foreign-language skills among native English speakers.

With entries for modern languages at A-level and university plummeting to a record low, Ofqual has been urged to take urgent action to ensure fair outcomes in 2014 examinations and restore confidence in languages departments.

Critics claim that British pupils’ poor heads for language have been exacerbated by unfair grading failing to adequately reward candidates for excellent performance.

Alison Ribeiro de Menezes, head of Hispanic Studies at Warwick, stated: “The perception that languages are graded more harshly than other subjects has not helped matters and needs to be investigated and rectified immediately.”

Lecturers conclude that the problem has put tremendous pressure on languages departments who are unfairly perceived to be underachieving.

Ofqual admitted that “relatively few A* grades are awarded in modern foreign languages when compared with other subjects with a higher proportion of A grades.”

The alleged difficultly of foreign-language A-levels has resulted in many budding linguists being put off for fear of losing out on top grades and university places.

Shirley Lawes, leader for PGCE languages at the Institute of Education in London pointed out “Languages are perceived to be difficult – in the context of schools being very conscious of exam results, people have been orientated towards other subjects.”

University of Warwick languages students have commented on the difficulty of languages at A-level, while others assert that determined and passionate linguists will succeed.

Annabelle Frost, a final-year French Studies undergraduate, told the Boar: “French was my worst A-level and I did maths!”  She also said that pupils are not prepared for the “massive jump from GCSE to AS-level”.

Another final-year French Studies undergraduate, Sarah Marr, stated: “If [students] are prepared to put the work in then [they] will achieve what [they] want.”

Another criticism raised by Warwick students was of the dull curriculum in school failing to stimulate students.

Stephanie Williams, a French Studies finalist, told the Boar: “we followed the text books and tried our best to jump through the various hoops the exam board had left for us. Very uninspiring.”

Sarah Marr added: “Describing my pets and saying what I did last weekend did become rather boring after a while.”

Ms Ribeiro de Menezes also underlined that Labour’s “decision [in 2004] to remove language requirements at GCSE obviously had a detrimental effect on take up.”

The number of universities offering modern languages has declined by 40 percent over the past 15 years.  The situation continues to worsen, with the number of department closures accelerating.

French and German, traditionally the two most popular languages at school, both appeared in a list of the ten fastest declining subjects this summer.

Peter Dunn, head of communications for the University of Warwick, confirmed that the number of applications for modern languages at Warwick has dropped over the last ten years.

Despite cut backs in languages departments across the country, the University does appear to be bucking the national trend.

Mr Dunn added: “The very fact that we have opened a new Hispanic Studies department at a time of overall falling national interest in modern languages shows Warwick’s commitment to and confidence” in language learning, which is “what you would expect from a globally connected university such as Warwick.”

Ms Ribeiro de Menezes finished by saying that the future is bright for language students: “With the shortage of languages graduates in the UK at present, the employment prospects of those who have these skills must surely soar.”