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Brits Regret Leaving Languages At The School Gate

2008 September, 26

Languages look set to become a la mode as Brits try to recoup lost skills from yesteryear, according to new research.

According to a study commissioned by Rosetta Stone, award-winning language learning software specialists, half of red-faced Brits (50%) have completely forgotten the language skills they acquired in the classroom, while two in five (41%) still regret not pursuing languages after leaving school above any other subject.

Surprisingly, more Brits have kept up their sporting prowess (18%), maintained friendships (34%) and developed cookery skills (47%) than expanded on the languages learnt at school (16%). Only 4% have kept in touch with their foreign exchange pen pal.

Rosetta Stone managing director, Steven Wines, says: “We all have things we wish we’d done differently but the most important thing to remember is that it’s never too late to learn.”

While over half of Brits (52%) agree that languages are important to a career, a staggering 86% confess to speaking little or no French. Despite this lack of knowledge, more than two thirds (69%) admit to turning green with envy toward those able to speak a foreign language fluently.

Of those who are more confident with their language ability, three in five (61%) cite it as a fundamental benefit to their career. Being able to communicate effectively while abroad is a growing necessity within business. A third of Brits (34%) believe that their language skills deliver more opportunities for travel and work abroad than their unilinguist counterparts.

Whether for business or pleasure, half the nation agrees that they don’t put as much effort as they should into speaking the local lingo while abroad. But most accept there are real benefits of building on their basic knowledge. Almost two thirds (65%) have pledged to improve their linguistic know-how with 57% believing it would pay dividends and play a vital role in increasing their confidence.

Wines continues: “Having the confidence to communicate in a different language is a valuable commodity. It’s a great way to set yourself apart in the business world. If you haven’t kept up the skills you learnt at school, the process of learning can be a real turn off. But it needn’t be so. Rosetta Stone offers a fun way to really immerse yourself in any one of more than 30 languages. Why not give it a go?”

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For more information, please visit www.rosettastone.co.uk, or telephone 0800 3777 939.

Notes To Editor:

About Rosetta Stone

Rosetta Stone Inc. is a leading provider of language learning software. Acclaimed for the speed, power and effectiveness of its Dynamic Immersion™ method.

Rosetta Stone was founded in 1992 on two core beliefs: that the natural way people learn languages as children remains the most successful method for learning new languages; and that interactive CD-ROM and online technology can recreate the immersion method powerfully for learners of any age. Rosetta Stone (UK) Limited, a subsidiary of Rosetta Stone Inc., is based in London.

Rosetta Stone has recently been award the accolade of MacWorld Education Product of the Year 2008.