Sir, – It is very disappointing that German is no longer to be examined at GCSE level by the Northern Ireland CCEA.
One does not study a foreign language just to be able to order a meal in a foreign language; one can do that nowadays on one’s phone.
By learning a foreign language, we are able to share in the culture, thought and literature of another country.
German is an inflected language. To study it one needs to think more about the grammar and structure of language than one does with many other languages. These are transferable skills. German literature has much to offer us.
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We are fortunate to have been born in an English-speaking country. Unlike those living in countries with lesser known languages, we do not have to make the effort to become fluent in English in order to make our way round the world. The more we study foreign languages, the better understanding we should have of the world around us. – Yours, etc,
MARGARET MARSHALL,
Cairnshill Avenue,
Belfast.
