Language
Sir: Mr Lockhart's article on the decline in modern language study mentions the lack of good language teachers as a main contributor to this sad state of affairs. Although lack of interest from firms and school-leavers is disturbing, the training of foreign language teachers as opposed to teachers who happen to teach foreign languages is surely at the root of the problem. In Germany we are engaged primarily in turning out teachers and not —as in England—young men and women with a language degree which can (in theory but unfortunately not in practice) qualify them 'for almost any job'.
Universities should, in their own interest, alter their language courses to include, as a compulsory and integral part of the degree, the study of language teaching theory which could range from Skinner v. Chomsky through the ordinary language of philosophers to the sociological descriptions of `communicativecompetence', thusproviding a broad enough approach to interest even those who will not become teachers.
Such an approach would fulfil two needs: a) the improvement of language teaching in schools and b) the appreciation by students of teaching as a social science; thus perhaps adding some glamour to the most unpopular of the professions.
R. E. B. Atkinson The Language Centre, University of Mainz, West Germany
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