Survey on Less-widely Taught Languages at universities in the UK and Ireland

This presentation will share the findings of a survey that aimed to identify the needs, challenges, teaching approaches, status, and working conditions of the teaching community that represents Less-widely Taught Languages (LWTLs) within the IWLP sector. Here, the term “less-widely taught” is
applied to all languages currently offered as non-specialist provision in universities except for French, German and Spanish. The survey was specifically addressed to the language teaching practitioners to give them a voice and enable them to share their views and perspectives with respect to their professional lives. During the academic year 2018/2019 we collated 77 responses from language tutors who represent 26 institutions affiliated to the AULC. The data suggested that there is no forum or a formal body that represents the interests of the teachers of the LWTLs in the UK and Ireland, and 85% of the respondents of the survey expressed their interest in joining a Special Interest Group (SIG) dedicated to LWTLs. In response to this, we would like to create this group as a platform for communication and the enhancement of teaching and learning of those languages.