Calls for trilingual education at Wicked film fest

THE importance of the international community has been placed front and centre at a North Wales film festival.

North Wales AM Isherwood was invited to Prestatyn High School to speak to pupils taking part in the Wicked Wales International Youth Film Festival. about to speak about the need for countries to work together and how learning languages can help.

The festival - which is in its fourth year - was established to support young filmmakers in North Wales with their creative efforts and to create a film culture where young people are encouraged and given support to express their ideas and explore their talents. This year's free event - which started on Monday, October 14 - has screened short films from over 30 countries

Mr Isherwood said: "In a globalised world, where international mobility is the norm for increasing numbers of people, learning a language is a wonderful benefit.

“Not only does it help when travelling, it is also a great advantage for studying in general and for career prospects abroad."

The AM told the young people that his youngest daughter is currently working on a British Council project in Spain, teaching English in a Spanish school, but that the British Council has said that there has been a continued drop in modern foreign languages uptake.

Mr Isherwood added:

He added: “Research has shown that where primary schools have introduced modern foreign languages, it has led to better attainment across the board.

“In Wales, of course, this means a trilingual Wales - with children and young people learning a modern foreign language as well as English and Welsh in school.

“Whatever happens with Brexit, we must ensure that Wales and the UK are still turned outwards, and more engaged with the world than ever before."