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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick
@cforsdick.bsky.social
460 followers 260 following 110 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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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 2d
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
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Reposted by Greg Walker, Margot C. Finn, Catriona Seth

cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 7d
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
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Reposted by Alison Phipps

cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 19d
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
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Reposted by Alison Phipps

cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 19d
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Catriona Seth

ucflangs.bsky.social
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
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick

theniceman.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Greg Walker

resprofnews.bsky.social
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...
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Catriona Seth

wendya-b.bsky.social
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
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick

hepi-news.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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Reposted by Catriona Seth

cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick

hetanshah.bsky.social
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
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...
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

Reposted by Charles Forsdick

donalh.bsky.social
Dónal Hassett @donalh.bsky.social · Jul 12
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
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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 9
Caribbean leaders pledge to join forces against crime and support for Haiti

www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
Caribbean leaders pledge to join forces against crime and support for Haiti
Caricom bloc committed to prioritizing country’s needs which has seen increased gang violence
www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Diane Coyle, Uta Frith, Elizabeth Stokoe , and 3 more

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jul 9
We’ve opened the call for @britishacademy.bsky.social postdoctoral fellowships. We provide three years of funding for early career researchers in the humanities and social sciences to complete a significant piece of publishable research
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/post...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick

Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Francisco Moreno Fernández

lspjournal.bsky.social
Languages, Society and Policy @lspjournal.bsky.social · Jul 9
✨ The Languages in UK Education special issue is now complete! Many thanks to our guest editors @wendya-b.bsky.social & @cforsdick.bsky.social for compiling this important collection, and to every contributor for sharing bold ideas to shape language education policy.
🔗 www.lspjournal.com
LANGUAGES, SOCIETY AND POLICY - HOME | LSP
Languages, Society and Policy
www.lspjournal.com
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Reposted by Greg Walker

cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 9
Australia can’t withstand further cuts to the humanities. Civil society depends on it.

humanities.org.au/news/austral...
Australia can't withstand further humanities cuts
The Australian Academy of Humanities views with great concern the impact on staff, students and the wider community of the ANU’s plan for the humanities and social sciences. Now is not the time to red...
humanities.org.au
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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 8
“there are many words in Kannada that contain whole cultural worlds in them, where there is as much hidden or implied within cultural context as is conveyed in literal meaning. That needs a human being, with understanding of these visible & invisible worlds, to translate such words” (Deepa Bhasthi)
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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 8
AI translation service launched for fiction writers and publishers prompts dismay among translators

UK-based GlobeScribe is charging $100 per book, per language for use of its services, but translators say that nuanced work can only be produced by humans

www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...
AI translation service launched for fiction writers and publishers prompts dismay among translators
UK-based GlobeScribe is charging $100 per book, per language for use of its services, but translators say that nuanced work can only be produced by humans
www.theguardian.com
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Reposted by Charles Forsdick, Laurent Dubois

susanaferreira.com
susana ferreira @susanaferreira.com · Jul 6
Hotel Oloffson is gone. The iconic Port-au-Prince gingerbread was set alight and burned to ash last night. #Haiti
Drone image of the Hotel Oloffson, Port-au-Prince, with the entirety of the wooden building burned, only the brick skeleton remains, surrounded by trees.
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Reposted by Becky Francis, Susan J. Smith, Charles Forsdick , and 6 more

hetanshah.bsky.social
Hetan Shah @hetanshah.bsky.social · Jul 2
Some people say the biggest gap in research funding is at mid career level. So here is our new call for our mid career fellowship programme which provides buyout for 6 to 12 months to devote to the completion of a major piece of research. Spread the word!
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/mid-...
Mid-Career Fellowships
The Mid-Career Fellowships are designed both to support outstanding individual researchers with excellent research proposals, and to promote public understanding and engagement with humanities and soc...
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk
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cforsdick.bsky.social
Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · Jul 2
Trente ans après les derniers essais nucléaires français en Polynésie, un héritage toxique

theconversation.com/trente-ans-a...
Trente ans après les derniers essais nucléaires français en Polynésie, un héritage toxique
Trente ans après les derniers essais nucléaires français, la population de la Polynésie attend une juste indemnisation pour les préjudices subis.
theconversation.com
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