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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..

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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

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Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 5h

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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Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 4d

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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Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 17d

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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Charles Forsdick @cforsdick.bsky.social · 17d

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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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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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

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

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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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

Margot Finn @eicathomefinn.bsky.social · Jul 31

“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.

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

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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Reposted by Charles Forsdick

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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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

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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 Charles Forsdick

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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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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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

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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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

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 Charles Forsdick

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

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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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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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)