Ahead of his recent high-profile visits to China and India, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown announced a boost to English language learning, teaching and training facilities for people throughout the world. We will help develop a new website to deliver that goal.
In his statement the Prime Minister revealed plans for a website to be developed by the British Council, in collaboration with other partners, which will offer learners and teachers around the world ready access to the materials, resources and qualifications they need to develop their skills in English.
Gordon Brown also announced how the British Council will be starting a programme in India to recruit 'Master Trainers' charged with developing the skills of 750,000 teachers of English over a five-year period. These initiatives are being developed by our teams in China, India and the UK.
In a message recorded especially for international students, teachers and educational establishments in advance of his trip, the Prime Minister said the website will provide the very latest in English language resources:
'The English language, like football and other sports, began here and has spread to every corner of the globe...English is much more than a language: it is a bridge across borders and cultures, a source of unity in a rapidly changing world...English does not make us all the same - nor should it, for we honour who we distinctly are. But it makes it possible for us to speak to each other, to better understand each other. And so it is a powerful force not just for economics, business and trade, but for mutual respect and progress.'
The Prime Minister emphasised that the new website will establish networks between teachers and students throughout the globe and enable one-to-one tuition between people anywhere in the world.
Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, said we are delighted to be working with other organisations to provide access to the best of teaching: ‘We know that right around the world young people want access to English language to give them the skills they need to take part in the globalising economy but also to get access to all the knowledge and understanding that we have in this country.’
‘And our ambition, as an organisation, is that every learner and teacher of English right around the world should have access to the best of English language teaching from this country.’
Read the full transcript of the Prime Minister’s statement on the Downing Street website.
Watch Martin Davidson announcing the new English language initiative on YouTube.
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