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In ¡°The gift of tongues¡± (Features, 23 February), Jacqueline Dutton rightly observes: ¡°Modern languages will survive if academics continue to work together to support each other across languages and are flexible enough to respond to the demand that exists for more diverse language pathways.¡±

The University of Central Lancashire has tailored a range of study pathways to open up modern languages and related area studies to as many people as possible. We ensure that language courses reflect global trends ¨C Korean studies is a recent addition ¨C so that students can develop not only linguistic competence but also skills that will make them more immediately employable. Our flexible study combinations enable students to consolidate their knowledge of languages or to begin new ones.

And for those who want just to dip a toe in, our investment in Rosetta Stone language-learning software, complemented by language-reinforcement group sessions, enables students to develop confidence in their chosen language(s) at their own pace. As well as all this, non-specialist language students can sign up for electives in 12 languages.

The success of such breadth of provision depends on our abilities as linguistic evangelists to continue to promote language learning within and beyond the academy. The global class of tomorrow will expect nothing less.

Mark Orme
Academic team lead for modern languages
University of Central Lancashire

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