Charles Forsdick
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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick
@cforsdick.bsky.social
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..
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
October 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
@katharinemurphy.bsky.social and I are very grateful to @cforsdick.bsky.social for wrapping up our takeover of @the-polyphony.bsky.social and for his generous words about the @readingbodies.bsky.social project 💙
October 24, 2025 at 2:00 PM
« 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
October 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
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
October 17, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
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 ⬇️
October 15, 2025 at 2:58 PM
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
October 14, 2025 at 5:49 PM
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
October 8, 2025 at 10:14 AM
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
October 3, 2025 at 5:54 PM
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
September 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM
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
August 31, 2025 at 1:25 PM
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
August 25, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
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
August 17, 2025 at 4:34 PM
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
August 14, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
“For researchers, the ability to engage with a text in the original language is especially useful in situations where precise nuances—whether technical, legal [or] literary—really matter,” she [Megan Bowler, HEPI report author] said.
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...
July 31, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
New Post: New report shows a catastrophic decline in formal language learning www.hepi.ac.uk/2025/07/31/n...
July 31, 2025 at 8:39 AM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
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
July 31, 2025 at 10:19 AM
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
July 27, 2025 at 8:40 PM
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
July 27, 2025 at 4:11 PM
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
July 26, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Reposted by Charles Forsdick
New agreement in Kanaky/New Caledonia that will lead to the creation of a 'State of New Caledonia' www.mediapart.fr/journal/fran...
Signature d’un accord pour la création d’un « État de la Nouvelle-Calédonie »
Les forces politiques de l’archipel ont signé, samedi 12 juillet au matin, un projet d’accord avec le gouvernement français, marquant leur engagement vers un nouveau statut du territoire. Une solutio…
www.mediapart.fr
July 12, 2025 at 11:05 AM