Blog: Schools as a gateway to the world
At NCLE, we believe that languages education is transformative and plays a crucial role in raising aspirations and developing the potential of every child. A hugely powerful way to do this is by opening up the world to your classroom: the international dimension will broaden your pupils’ horizons. Vicky Gough, Schools Adviser at the British Council, one of NCLE’s Consortium partners, explains the many benefits of maximising international experiences in schools.
Written by Vicky Gough
In today’s interconnected world, young people can communicate instantly across borders through technology and social media. Yet, despite this global connectedness, many pupils in the UK end their formal language learning at just 14. This is a missed opportunity. Learning another language is not only about vocabulary and grammar — it is about preparing young people to live, work, and thrive in an international environment.
For most children, school is the first real gateway to the wider world. When teachers embed culture and international experience into language learning, they do more than teach pronunciation and syntax: they ignite curiosity, nurture empathy, and foster an outward-looking mindset. For many pupils, this sparks a lifelong love of languages.
The benefits of international experience
International experiences in schools bring wide-ranging, evidence-based benefits:
- Curriculum engagement: lessons feel more motivating and relevant (International School Exchanges: pilot, Education Endowment Foundation, 2020).
- Skills for life: communication, resilience, and confidence grow through practice (International School Exchanges: pilot, Education Endowment Foundation, 2020).
- Intercultural awareness and tolerance: better preparation for living and working in a globalised world (International School Exchanges: pilot, Education Endowment Foundation, 2020).
- Opportunity and ambition: students who study or train abroad report higher earnings, stronger employability, and greater confidence in their futures, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds (Erasmus+ Impact Study, European Commission, 2014).
To unlock these opportunities for young people, we must nurture their sense of what is possible — by encouraging them to learn languages, facilitating exchanges and international visits, and helping them feel at ease in global environments.
Challenges and opportunities in schools
Schools face real constraints: tight budgets, crowded timetables, and a shortage of qualified language teachers. Yet, support exists to bring the world into the classroom.
School partnerships: Nothing brings learning to life like collaboration with schools abroad.
Partnerships can:
- Deepen understanding of global issues.
- Reinforce existing projects or inspire new ones.
- Improve pupil engagement and outcomes.
- Strengthen language learning.
The British Council provides resources, guidance, and training for every step of the partnership journey — from partner-finding to providing resources for schools to build on established relationships.
The British Council International School Award recognises schools that embed international awareness across their curriculum. It offers a framework for collaboration with overseas partners, while also involving the wider community in global learning.
A national imperative
The importance of language learning and international experiences goes far beyond individual success. They are vital for the UK’s future prosperity and global standing.
- Economic growth and employability: Businesses operating in international markets consistently highlight the demand for employees with language skills. Research shows that the UK loses billions annually in missed trade opportunities due to language barriers. Equipping pupils with these skills strengthens our workforce and ensures the UK remains competitive in a global economy.
- Diplomacy and soft power: Language and cultural understanding are the foundations of international trust. Graduates who are globally minded become not only better employees, but also effective ambassadors for the UK. Investing in language education strengthens our diplomatic influence, fosters cooperation, and enhances the UK’s reputation worldwide.
- Equity and opportunity: At present, access to exchanges and international experiences often depends on a school’s resources or a family’s financial situation. This risks making global opportunities the preserve of the privileged few. Ensuring that every young person — regardless of background — can engage with the wider world is a matter of fairness as well as national interest.
If schools, policymakers, and communities commit to embedding languages and internationalism in education, the UK will reap long-term rewards: a more skilled workforce, stronger international partnerships, and a generation of young people confident in their place in the world.
By acting together, we can ensure the UK remains outward-looking, connected, and influential — and that every young person has the tools to succeed in an increasingly globalised future.
Two easy steps to explore further with NCLE:
- Sign up to the NCLE’s free CPD platform, Language Educators Online (LEO) for guidance on integrating the international dimension in your practice. Registration is free and takes just a couple of minutes. Specifically, LEO’s modules on ‘Motivation and Engagement’ and ‘Intercultural Dimension’ include practical explorations tailored specifically for the languages classroom.
- Get in touch with the British Council today, to find out more about the many ways you can access support, funding and opportunities to bring the world into your classroom:
British Council
Partner with a school page
ISA page
References:
Education Endowment Foundation (2020). International School Exchanges: pilot. https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects-and-evaluation/projects/international-school-exchanges
European Commission (2014). Erasmus Impact Study: Key Findings. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/memo_14_534
Vicky Gough is lead for Modern Languages in schools in the UK at the British Council. She has managed a number of programmes and activities that support the teaching and learning of languages in the UK and bring an intercultural dimension to language learning. She has produced resources to introduce young people to other languages and cultures and to motivate young people to continue with languages to GCSE and beyond. She oversees the annual Language Trends England research. The British Council is a partner in the NCLE (National Consortium for languages Education)