Sascha Stollhans

Jointly with the Chair of W+IGS and the President of the GLA, the President of the AGS, @pdavies.bsky.social, has sent a letter to the Principal of Heriot-Watt University opposing proposed staff cuts to the Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies and threats to close German and Chinese.

And another petition, sadly 😪
You might be aware that the Department of Languages & Intercultural Studies (LINCS) at Heriot-Watt University is under threat.

More information and to sign the petition: heriotwatt.web.ucu.org.uk/2026/02/05/s...

Have you heard the recent House of Lords debate led by Baroness Coussins (Chair of the APPG for Modern Languages), which addresses language education across schools and universities in the UK?

Baroness Coussins’ intervention is at 15:37 and can be viewed here: parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/...

Learning German has many benefits for young people – and it’s not as hard as its reputation suggests Learning a language gives you unique insights into different cultures, societies and perspectives.

Happy #ShoutOutForGerman week! Learning #German has lots of benefits, it’s fun and not as hard as some may think: theconversation.com/learning-ger... @uk.theconversation.com @goethe-institut-uk.bsky.social @daad-uk-ireland.bsky.social @uk.diplo.de @ags-gbi.bsky.social @britgerassoc.bsky.social

👉 How has learning German enriched your life?
👉 What's your favourite German word or expression?
👉 What do you love about the German language?

It's Shout Out For German Week! If you're passionate about German, use #ShoutOutForGerman and join our week-long celebration of German!

Learning German has many benefits for young people – and it’s not as hard as its reputation suggests Learning a language gives you unique insights into different cultures, societies and perspectives.

Thank you to @goethe-institut-uk.bsky.social German Expert Mentor Sally Conroy for organising the event and inviting me!

To find out more about the perception that German is a difficult language to learn: theconversation.com/learning-ger... #ShoutOutForGerman

Poster advertising the workshop

For #ShoutOutForGerman week (organised by @uk.diplo.de, @goethe-institut-uk.bsky.social & @daad-uk-ireland.bsky.social), I will be delivering an online workshop on myths about German on 22 January, aimed primarily at Key Stage 4-5 language learners.
To sign up: bit.ly/3Nwif1i
#German #languages #MFL

2025 in review: making the case for linguistics in language teaching and learning Our project is concerned with exploring and explaining the relationship between linguistics (the analytical and critical study of language) and language education, especially within a UK context. We a...

“2025 in review: making the case for #linguistics in language teaching and learning” - Find out more about our activities in 2025, including publications, talks, new materials, and public engagement, and read about some of our plans for 2026: www.linkedin.com/pulse/2025-r... #MFL #languages

Our @saschastollhans.bsky.social has commented on the recent good news concerning our re-entry to the Erasmus+ scheme: theconversation.com/uk-to-re-joi... @euerasmusplus.bsky.social @ec.europa.eu @ucflangs.bsky.social #Erasmus

UK to re-join Erasmus+ – here are six benefits of the European exchange scheme Erasmus+ an accessible and well-supported programme.

The UK re-joining the @euerasmusplus.bsky.social programme is fantastic news! In this article for @uk.theconversation.com, I outline some of the reasons why: theconversation.com/uk-to-re-joi... #Erasmus #education #international @lcsleeds.bsky.social @ucflangs.bsky.social

UK to re-join Erasmus+ – here are six benefits of the European exchange scheme Erasmus+ an accessible and well-supported programme.

Erasmus+ an accessible and well-supported programme.

Screenshot of website advertising roundtable

Then from 3.30pm @saschastollhans.bsky.social will be taking part in a roundtable “Towards a Sustainable Future for Languages in UK Education” organised by @leedscitylanguages.bsky.social. You can join in person in Leeds or watch the debate online: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/round...

Flyer for Michelle Sheehan’s talk

We look forward to being being involved in two exciting events today: you can join our project lead @mishee54.bsky.social at 2pm (UK time) for a webinar on “Why language teaching needs linguistics”, hosted by GLOW - register here to receive the Zoom link: glowlinguistics.org/blog/glowing...

Roundtable and Q&A: Towards a Sustainable Future for Languages in UK Education. Hybrid event. Sign up via: www.eventbrite.com/e/roundtable... @lcs_leeds

Excited to give a public talk on attitudes and stereotypes about languages as part of @leedscitylanguages.bsky.social tomorrow! All welcome, so if you’re in Leeds (and can’t resist the clickbaity title), feel free to come along! leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/talk-... #languages #Leeds

This free online workshop “From linguistic research to classroom practice: how different perspectives shape #grammar #teaching” may be of interest to teachers on here: linguisticsinmfl.co.uk/events/works... #edusky #langsky #linguistics @inmfl.bsky.social @saschastollhans.bsky.social

We had a full room in our Leeds City of Languages Year Abroad Photo Exhibition Opening this morning! Thank you to everybody who joined us!

Join us for two packed weeks celebrating languages, culture & connection — with taster sessions, workshops, school events, and more across Leeds and campus.

Max Hegarty, who is studying aerospace engineering, said the proposals also affect students on other courses. He has taken modules in German, and said this enabled him to do an internship in Germany. "So much of our European engineering is based in Germany," he said. "While a lot of people are willing to learn English, not returning that effort to them is not great for that collaboration, for that international co-operation that we need. "Cutting funding for modern languages courses serves only to paralyse our growth as a country."

Such a key point about cutting back on language provision - it’s not good for science and it’s not good for growth
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Sign the Petition Stop the removal of Modern Languages courses at the University of Nottingham!

Please consider signing and sharing these petitions against truly damaging and short-sighted proposals to close languages and music programmes at @uniofnottingham.bsky.social:

www.change.org/p/stop-the-r...

www.change.org/p/stop-the-s...

University of Nottingham students fight 'insane' cull of courses Traitors composer Sam Watts is among those against plans to cut University of Nottingham courses.

Excellent article here. Our students are our greatest advocates. Counter proposals will be put forward, and we are supporting colleagues in Music, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Theology and Religious Studies at Nottingham with their campaigns www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Truly awful news. Ruthless, short-sighted and ill-informed. I remember working at @uniofnottingham.bsky.social about a decade ago and the University taking great pride in being one of the biggest languages departments in the country… Where’s that pride gone?! www.bbc.com/news/article...?

“Does #German sound aggressive and #French romantic?” All invited to this public talk about attitudes to #languages by project member @saschastollhans.bsky.social taking place on 18 November at @universityofleeds.bsky.social: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/talk-... #LeedsCityOfLanguages

Does #German really sound aggressive? Why do some people find the sound of #French romantic and sexy? And how about the friendly-sounding Geordies?
Join us for a public lecture by Prof Sascha Stollhans.
👉 Find out more: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk/events/talk-...
@saschastollhans.bsky.social

Everyone has an accent, a way of speaking that reflects different aspects of our identities.

At the University of Leeds, we’ve launched the All Accents Welcome campaign to celebrate the diversity of voices across our community and raise awareness of accent bias.

Leeds City of Languages is a vibrant celebration of the city's languages, cultures, and communities, highlighting our connections with the world.
Check out our webpage: leedscityoflanguages.leeds.ac.uk #leedscityoflanguages #languages #mfl

Linguistics in MFL | LinkedIn Linguistics in MFL | 36 followers on LinkedIn. Making the case for the place of linguistics in school-based language teaching and learning. | The ‘Linguistics in Modern Foreign Languages’ (or MFL) Pro...

📣 Follow our brandnew LinkedIn page for project updates and more resources: “Linguistics in MFL” www.linkedin.com/company/ling...

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...

Rethinking language education in the school curriculum in England

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

Thinking Strategically Seminar Series Bringing together researchers to discuss issues of major concern and to ensure joined-up action for the future development of the study of languages and cultures.

Please do sign up to join in our online conversation event on 21st November, 12 noon, about the recent report on language education in the UK from the @hepi-news.bsky.social by @meganlbowler.bsky.social, sponsored by #Duolingo Thanks to @ilcs.bsky.social
for hosting ilcs.sas.ac.uk/research-pol...

Inclusive Education, Life Long Learning and CPD Award - Linguistics in Modern Foreign Languages YouTube video by Newcastle University Engagement

It's been a busy summer for @inmfl ! We recently won @newcastleuni.bsky.social's Inclusive Education, Life Long Learning and CPD Award.

For teachers interested in our project here's a little video about us: www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT9R... #linguistics #edusky

Time for a reality check: Britain cannot be a big player on the world stage unless we speak more languages | Sophia Smith Galer For all the talk of addressing the problem, things have got worse. Which is criminal when there is so much we could do, says journalist Sophia Smith Galer

Time for a reality check: Britain cannot be a big player on the world stage unless we speak more languages | Sophia Smith Galer