Charles Forsdick

@cforsdick.bsky.social

470 followers 260 following 120 posts

Drapers Professor of French, MMLL, Cambridge; Professorial Fellow, Murray Edwards College; Lead Fellow Languages, @britishacademy.bsky.social; Hon. Professor Centre for the Study of International Slavery (CSIS). Researches travel, empire, Haiti, comics.. .. more

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Philosophy 22%

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Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Apr 9

UK academia’s lack of language skills ‘imperils research integrity’

www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-c...

UK academia’s lack of language skills ‘imperils research integrity’ - Research Professional News

British Academy report calls for more recognition of linguistic ability, including in Research Excellence Framework

www.researchprofessionalnews.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 16d

Phillis Wheatley, the first Black nature poet

observer.co.uk/culture/book...

Phillis Wheatley, the first Black nature poet | The Observer

Enslaved as a child, the 18th-century writer became the first published Black woman – and a pioneer of nature poetry whose legacy still inspires

observer.co.uk

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 16d

Cracking the code of Papua New Guinea’s undocumented languages

observer.co.uk/news/science...

Cracking the code of Papua New Guinea’s undocumented lang...

Nicholas Evans has spent decades trying to decipher the undocumented tongues of Papua New Guinea and Australia. His work has redefined the way we think a...

observer.co.uk

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 17d

Multilingual, Transnational and Translational: Rethinking the Medical Humanities

thepolyphony.org/2025/10/24/m...

Multilingual, Transnational and Translational: Rethinking the Medical Humanities

Charles Forsdick concludes the Reading Bodies takeover and discusses how this project on historical discourses of illness in European literatures and cultures contributes to rethinking the medical …

thepolyphony.org

Reposted by Charles Forsdick

The Polyphony @the-polyphony.bsky.social · 18d

@cforsdick.bsky.social concludes the @readingbodies.bsky.social takeover and discusses how this project contributes to rethinking the medical humanities in ways that are simultaneously multilingual, transnational and translational.
thepolyphony.org/2025/10/24/m...

Multilingual, Transnational and Translational: Rethinking the Medical Humanities

thepolyphony.org

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 19d

« Climates of Migration: Ecology, Literature and Propaganda » par Dominic Thomas

achac.com/tribune/clim...

Newsletter #615 - 22 octobre 2025 | Groupe de recherche Achac

Tribune : « Climates of Migration: Ecology, Literature and Propaganda » par Dominic Thomas

achac.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 24d

Is it only words?
Neil Mercer argues for more oracy in education

Check out this page: www.bps.org.uk/psychologist...

Is it only words? | BPS

Neil Mercer (University of Cambridge) argues for more oracy in education.

www.bps.org.uk

Reposted by Charles Forsdick

Karen Forbes @karenforbes.bsky.social · 26d

Looking forward to contributing to this seminar on 'Professional agency & language policy in the context of the Curriculum and Assessment Review' @camedfac.bsky.social on 30th Oct with Norbert Pachler, @wendya-b.bsky.social @zhu-hua.bsky.social @cforsdick.bsky.social and others. In-person & online ⬇️

Reposted by Catriona Seth

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 27d

Think Like a Linguist: It’s time for a national conversation about the value of languages

www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/10/14/t...

Think Like a Linguist: It’s time for a national conversation about the value of languages - HEPI

This guest blog was kindly authored by Dr Charlotte Ryland, Director of the Translation Exchange. ‘Languages are not just a skillset, they’re a mindset.’ I still remember where I was when a teacher ...

www.hepi.ac.uk

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Oct 8

Rethinking language education: evidence for England’s Curriculum and Assessment Review

blogs.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/2025/10/...

Rethinking language education: evidence for England’s Curriculum and Assessment Review

Language education in school has significant transformational potential in terms of learners’ right to a well-rounded education and the enhancement of their life chances… (read more)

blogs.ucl.ac.uk

Reposted by Greg Walker, Margot C. Finn, Catriona Seth

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Oct 3

Disadvantaged students ‘more likely to miss out on GCSE foreign languages’

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home...

Disadvantaged students ‘more likely to miss out on GCSE foreign languages’

In 2004, language learning ceased to be compulsory at Key Stage 4, aged 14 to 16.

www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Alison Phipps

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Sep 21

First students evacuated from Gaza to study in UK

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

First students evacuated from Gaza to study in UK

The group includes at least four medical doctors who have places to study at UK universities.

www.bbc.co.uk

Reposted by Alison Phipps

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Sep 21

Rethinking language education in the school curriculum in England

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Rethinking language education in the school curriculum in England

This Special Collection comprises contributions to the debate on languages across the school curriculum from leading researchers and practitioners in the field. It aims to support the strengthening...

www.tandfonline.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Aug 31

UK advertises contract to run Erasmus scheme

www.ft.com/content/c79d...

UK advertises contract to run Erasmus scheme

Tender indicates ministers are preparing ground to rejoin European student swap programme

www.ft.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Aug 25

Of all the languages I know, Persian is the one that speaks directly to me and offers a new way of being

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Out of all the languages I know, Persian is the one that speaks directly to my soul and offers a new way of being | Shadi Khan Saif

I’ve found metaphors that mirror my own journey, phrases that feel like home and poetry that speaks directly to the soul

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Catriona Seth

UCFL - University Council For Languages @ucflangs.bsky.social · Aug 17

Lost in translation - the case for learning modern foreign languages
www.ft.com/content/c9f3...

Lost in translation

Even in the language app era there are benefits to learning a foreign tongue

www.ft.com

Reposted by Charles Forsdick

Mr E @theniceman.bsky.social · Aug 15

Can universities help re-route languages pathways?
whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com/2025/07/hope...

@cforsdick.bsky.social @emmacayley.bsky.social
@nickhillman.bsky.social
@ucflangs.bsky.social

Hope is in the air

Languages is in the news again. With an exciting plethora of projects and proposals that could take us forward. Here's one that has just qu...

whoteacheslanguages.blogspot.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Aug 14

France acknowledges role in repression of Cameroon independence movements

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/a...

France acknowledges role in repression of Cameroon independence movements

Emmanuel Macron writes to Cameroonian president with findings of joint commission on country’s colonial past

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Greg Walker

Research Professional News @resprofnews.bsky.social · Jul 31

Collapse of languages has ‘knock-on effects’ for research

University-wide language provision increasingly important for international research capabilities, says Hepi report author. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-u...

Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Catriona Seth

wendya-b.bsky.social @wendya-b.bsky.social · Jul 31

Read UCFL's reaction to the new HEPI report on languages: university-council-for-languages.org/2025/07/31/n...
The recommendations for HE are particularly welcome, as are those around equality of access and social justice. @emmacayley.bsky.social @cforsdick.bsky.social

New HEPI report calls for urgent action on revitalising language learning

UCFL welcomes the release of a new HEPI report, sponsored by Duolingo, that highlights the urgent need for action to support and improve the uptake of languages at school level and beyond. It empha…

university-council-for-languages.org

Reposted by Charles Forsdick

Higher Education Policy Institute @hepi-news.bsky.social · Jul 31

New Post: New report shows a catastrophic decline in formal language learning www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/07/31/n...

Hands in air and speech bulb saying 'hello' in different languages

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 27

The Guardian view on talking in class: the writers speaking up for oracy education are right

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

The Guardian view on talking in class: the writers speaking up for oracy education are right | Editorial

Editorial: Verbal communication has always been crucial. But today more than ever, young people must be equipped for jobs that can’t be done by machines

www.theguardian.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 27

How the riches of its graduates tied Edinburgh University to slavery

www.theguardian.com/education/20...

How the riches of its graduates tied Edinburgh University to slavery

Alumni such as Robert Halliday Gunning helped the university raise the equivalent of tens of millions of pounds

www.theguardian.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 26

Fair by Jen Calleja review – on the magic of translation

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

Fair by Jen Calleja review – on the magic of translation

A highly original book from the author of Goblinhood explores the art and work of translating fiction

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Catriona Seth

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 17

Macron is right – let's revive the school French exchange to secure a future together

www.politicshome.com/opinion/arti...

Macron is right – let's revive the school French exchange to secure a future together

As a former French teacher, I think I must have been the first MP to reply to Black Rod’s invitation to President Macron’s visit to address parliam...

www.politicshome.com

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 15

The Indian state where people are being beaten up for speaking the wrong language

www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/i...

The Indian state where people are being beaten up for speaking the wrong language

New rules for schools have ignited street protests and unrest, exposing a nationwide conflict over language and regional identity. Shahana Yasmin reports

www.independent.co.uk

Reposted by Charles Forsdick

Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jul 13

‘We had Aswad in the charts, we had Trevor Walters in the charts, we had Janet Kay in the charts, just to mention a few, and none of us was called upon as if we weren't important enough to play a role’
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Brafa: 'They didn't invite us to do Live Aid so we did our own thing'

Forty years ago Britain's reggae stars recorded a single and held a concert to raise money for Ethiopia.

www.bbc.co.uk

Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 12

Liverpool black history researchers discover slaver ship advert from 1805

Ad, which states vessel can hold ‘about 185 slaves’, comes to light as city dock is being turned into ‘contemplation space’

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...