 |
||
The Business of Language
26 September was the European Day Of Languages. Events took place across Europe to celebrate linguistic diversity. In the North East there were language taster lessons, cultural briefings, and even meetings conducted in foreign languages! Newcastle Council, Durham County Council, One NorthEast and the bgroup were all involved with events on the Day. As part of the celebrations three competitions were launched by CILT, the National Centre for Languages, Collins and Lonely Planet. For full details of the prizes available and how to enter visit the RLN Events page. As the UK co-ordinator of the Day, CILT, the National Centre for Languages is keen to hear about what you got up to and how it all went. We also welcome feedback on the resources we produced as well as our web pages and administration, so if you have a few minutes to spare we'd love to hear from you. If you want to send photos for inclusion on the CILT website, then forward them with a brief description of your event/activity to edl@cilt.org.uk What did you do? What did you think?
Let us know at www.cilt.org.uk/edl/feedback.htm
UK companies face increased exposure to international trade competition and find themselves involved in new patterns of business ownership. This brings a growing need to understand how to handle international communication to best effect, and how to exploit languages and cultural skills to the full. The Languages for Competitive Advantage conference will address UK business in an international context and will be taking place on Monday 12th December at the Cranfield Management Development Centre in Bedford. Keynote speakers include: Sir Trevor McDonald Patron, CILT, the National Centre for Languages To find out more, or to download an application form visit the RLN Events page.
Develop Profitable Sales in Today's Russia - 18th October 2005 Companies across the North East have been invited to a special free two hour breakfast event to showcase the fact that there a host of profitable sales opportunities in Russia. The "Develop Profitable Sales in Today's Russia" event, organised by UK Trade and Investment, offers companies a chance to find out more about these opportunities and the practicalities of doing business in Russia. The event is free but places are limited and must be booked beforehand. Full details can be found on the RLN Events pages.
A poll by the exam board OCR reveals that the North East has the highest percentage of parents who believe that learning a foreign language is important to their children's education. After the survey's publication, timed to coincide with the European Day of Languages, Bill McGawley, chairman of the North-East Institute of Directors, said North East firms needed to improve their language skills. Now business and teachers' leaders from the North have called on the Government to reverse the decision to allow children to drop languages when studying for GCSEs. Zélie Guérin, manager of the Regional Language Network, said: "Today's school leavers are tomorrow's workers and managers. It's very interesting that the region's parents have clearly picked up on the need for an exporting region like ours to be able to communicate with potential customers and trading partners across the world."
"Formed in 1998, Education Business Connections Ltd (EBC) is now a registered charity dedicated to bringing pupils, schools, teachers and businesses together for the benefit of those involved. Our activities offer something for everyone and our aim is to develop a better-prepared, a better-skilled and more motivated workforce in the future". The need for pupils to communicate in a modern foreign language is more important than ever before - whether for social, leisure or employment purposes. EBC's wide range of programmes includes 'All Directions' language events. Developed in partnership with Modern Foreign Language Teachers and LEA Specialist Language Advisers, the events provide vital practical experience of classroom learning through an exciting and stimulating range of activities whilst reinforcing the value of a modern foreign language for business and industry. EBC requires the support of business facilitators, language specialists and sponsors for French and Spanish events, to support Year 7-9 pupils, to be held in November 2005, December 2005 and January 2006. If you are interested in finding out more about these activities or feel you are able to support the events, please contact Julie Kelly on (0191) 516 6411 or email educationbusiness@hotmail.com. Further details can be found on the RLN Education Providers pages.
RLN in the News Cultural guides Welcome the World
In the last edition we featured the article below for free language courses for those involved in the tourism industry. There are still places available on the German course beginning in November - contact Lesley Twomey for more details.
Do you want to improve the way you respond to the increasing numbers of French, German and Spanish tourists? If the answer is yes, you could benefit from the Languages for Tourism programme on offer at Northumbria University. The number of tourists in the region coming from France, Germany and Spain is increasing rapidly with the growth in scheduled flights to North East airports. If you work in the tourism industry, what better way to make a good impression in these growing markets than learning how to welcome and engage visitors in their own language. What's on offer?
To register your interest and find out more, call Lesley Twomey on 0191 227 3798 or email lesley.twomey@northumbria.ac.uk
Congratulations to Teresa Kirby, Lucia Luck and Astrid Alvarez who were the winners from our August Issue. This time you can win the following prizes;
To be in with a chance of winning, simply answer the following questions and e-mail your answers to rln-northeast@onenortheast.co.uk by 5pm on Thursday 3rd November. The first three entries pulled out of the hat who get both questions correct will be the winners. Hint: Look at the Cultural Guides on our website for help! 1) In Latvia how are women recommended to dress for a business meeting? 2) What is 'La grande dictée'?   
Please circulate The Business of Language to friends or colleagues who may find this of interest. If you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter or updates, or you have received it in error please reply to this message with NO NEWSLETTER in the subject field.
|
||
