LOCKDOWN LINGO

The number of people learning a new language has soared in the UK during lockdown

THE “Brits abroad” stereotypes are seldom positive ones.

From the benign pasty white legs and socks and sandals - to the grotesque - loutish drunkenness and airborne patio furniture - they're generally not great.

Like most stereotypes, they're not really a fair representation, but one where Britain probably has to hold its hands up is the idea that we're rubbish at languages.

Speak slowly, speak loudly and always point is the general mantra.

Government figures suggest just 44% of students taking a GCSE in 2018/19 studied a foreign language.

That's not the lowest percentage on record - that was 40% 2010/11 and 2011/12 - but is just half of 86% of GCSE students who studied a foreign language in 1997/98.

A report by the European Commission in 2018 found that just 32% of UK 15-30 year olds felt confident reading and writing in two or more languages, compared to 79% in France, 91% in Germany, and 80% on average across EU member states.

However, things could be about to change thanks to lockdown.

Figures released by popular language learning app Duolingo suggest that the number of people trying to learn a new language jumped by a massive 300% in the first week of lockdown (week commencing March 23) compared to the last week in February.

"The UK has taken language learning on Duolingo to heart,” a spokesperson from the company said.

“We've seen school children learning French and Spanish to support their schooling, people in isolation learning Japanese and

Latin to take their minds off what is happening, plus many, many more simply learning everything from Welsh to Scottish Gaelic and Italian because it's a productive and rewarding use of their time.

“All our courses are free and always will be free so that anyone with a device and an internet connection can start learning today."

The figures from Duolingo also show that other countries in lockdown have been far less likely to turn to learning new languages.

By the week commencing March 23, France had seen a 160% increase in the number of learners on Duolingo compared to the last week in February.

Italy and Spain saw the number of learners double, whereas in Germany the increase was by less than 50%.

Spanish is the most popular language for people in the UK to learn, with over a quarter of accounts taking a course in the language.

That's followed by French with a fifth of learners, German with 9%, English and Italian with 8% each, and Japanese with 4%.

Duolingo is free and available on IOS and Android apps, and at Duolingo.com