BBC Worldwide is working with the University of Cambridge on a range of new-generation foreign language courses. The agreement will result in the launch of a series of multi-media language courses over the next five years.

The new courses will incorporate a range of media including CD-ROM, book, audio and online. BBC Worldwide and the University of Cambridge Language Centre will develop an exciting new range of language courses primarily for self-study learners and a leading-edge intranet-based course for use within the University and in other educational institutions.

New self-study courses in French and Spanish will be the first result of the new partnership; these will be launched next Summer. Intranet-based courses in French and Spanish will be launched in 2004. BBC Worldwide will market, sell and distribute the products worldwide.

As Martin Mulloy, Director of Languages, BBC Worldwide, explains:

"More and more people in the UK would like to learn a foreign language. The most commonly-cited barriers to learning are lack of time and a feeling of isolation when they try to learn a language on their own.

"These new courses will allow potential language learners to overcome these problems by offering them the means of learning independently and at a time that suits them, but within the framework of an online learning community, incorporating help and guidance from a qualified tutor."

Anny King, Executive Director of the Language Centre, elaborates:

"According to the National Institute for Adult Learning (NIACE), 41 per cent of adults would like to learn a language if time and circumstances permitted. In the Language Centre we have been working to address this need by providing online multimedia material to support face-to-face teaching. We are delighted that this partnership with BBC Worldwide will enable us to make these opportunities available on a much wider scale.

"The Language Centre is well known for its learner-centred approach to language learning and teaching and is a respected name in the market. This partnership will allow us to combine these credentials with BBC Worldwide's own longstanding experience of foreign language publishing to set the standard for the next generation of language learning products."

Dr David Secher, Director of Research Services for the University, added: "This is an excellent example of 21st century knowledge transfer. The University is committed to creating partnerships such as this in order to bring the benefits from academic research to a wider society. Cambridge has embraced the concept of 'third stream' university activities and intends to become as well known for its excellence in this area as it has traditionally been in teaching and research."

The agreement is a co-investment between BBC Worldwide and University of Cambridge and has been made possible by a grant from the Isaac Newton Trust, a charitable body established to invest in educational projects.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Licence. If you use this content on your site please link back to this page.