Jane Collis

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Presented by Jane Collis Regional Language
Network London Manager
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Regional Language Network London

• Regional Language Network London is part of a
  UK-wide programme supported by CILT, the National
  Centre for Languages. Our work is funded by the
  London Development Agency
• A one-stop shop for language and culture
  expertise. www.rln-london.com

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(No Transcript)
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Some background statistics

• In 2006 GCSE entries in French and German fell by
  13.2 and 14.2 respectively.
• The Federation of Small Business Membership
  Survey 2004 reported foreign languages as one of
  the three key skills areas where businesses felt
  dissatisfaction.

• The 2006 annual schools census reveals that 39.1
  of children in London primary schools speak a
  first language other than English.

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More background statistics

• Only one third of UK graduates are confident
  enough to go abroad to work, compared to the
  two-thirds of their European counterparts.
• From 2001 to 2004 there was a decline in the
  numbers of GCSE entries in each of the top
  twelve community languages from schools in
  England.
• 80 of British export managers cannot competently
  conduct dealings in even one foreign language.

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Aspirations

• inspire a generation
• reinvent ourselves as a tourist destination
• upgrade our skills base in customer services
• to harness the power of our creative and
  cultural industries
• to throw the greatest party the world has ever
  seen

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Lord Coe

• London is the most cosmopolitan city in the
  world, constantly renewing itself and now home to
  200 ethnic communities, who speak a total of 300
  languages. We want to involve all of these people
  and communities in delivering our Games

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Language skills

• For overcoming communication barriers at the
  Games
• For achieving the higher aspirations for the
  legacy of the Games
• Customer service
• Tourism
• Boosting ambition of young people

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Opportunities for languages

• Professional linguists
• Other professionals
• Volunteers
• Training camps
• Business
• Tourism
• Customer service
• Cultural Olympiad

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Using the talent we have

• 129 languages spoken in Manchester
• 106 in Scotland
• 41 in Dorset
• Concentration of language professionals

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Food for thought

• 1. Over 200 countries will be represented in
  2012.
• 2. Over 5,000 officials, 15,000 accredited media
  personnel and a further 15,000 non-accredited
  media representatives will attend.
• 3. Over 1400 volunteer interpreters worked inside
  the venues for the Sydney Games.
• 4.At the Barcelona Games, besides the four
  official languages, fifteen others were used.
• 5. At the Seoul Games 5,890 personnel for all
  languages were designated for duty assignments

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More food for thought

• 6. The Multilingual Switchboard operated in over
  50 languages at the Sydney Games.
• 7. The quality of French translation is
  paramount, as in the case of divergence between
  the French and English the French text shall
  prevail .
• 8. The working languages of the Olympic
  movement as set out in the Olympic Charter, are
  Arabic, English, French, German, Russian and
  Spanish.
• 9. At the Atlanta Games 32 issues of the Olympic
  Village newspaper were translated
• 10. Translation of street signs etc is taking
  place in Beijing on a massive scale

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The 2012 London Games some language issues

• Official languages interpreting and translation
• Games-time official communication
• 70,000 volunteers
• New partnerships
• Testing and training
• Technologies
• Media and communications
• Signage, wayfinding and public information
• Creating a buzz
• Badging

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Where next?

• Your (R)LN website
• National and regional strategies
• New CILT publication
• Business opportunities at http//www.london2012.co
  m/en/gettinginvolved/business
• Sign up for the RLN London newsletter at
• www.rln-london.com

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Getting ready to welcome the world

• www.rln-london.com
• Jane Collis