Learning the local lingo en masse

According to a recent survey conducted by EasyJet, people from Newcastle in the north east of England are more likely to try and communicate in a foreign language when abroad than those from other parts of the country. To capitalise on this interesting finding, the budget airline got in contact with Routes into Languages at Newcastle University with a view to working together to promote languages in the local area.

One outcome of this collaboration so far has been a mass languages lesson in the centre of Newcastle where the general public had the opportunity to learn how to say hello, ask for directions or order a drink at the bar in French and Spanish. EasyJet have also produced some useful prompt cards containing foreign language phrases which they are giving to anyone travelling from Newcastle Airport to Spain or France to help them brush up their language skills en route to their holiday. These also include translations of classic geordie expressions such as:

• here man get away = no way : arrête de déconner / ¡Por supuesto que no!
• nar a dont think so like = no : non, ça va pas être possible / No creo
• why aye = yes: oui / Sí / ¡Claro!

 

The accompanying YouTube clip gives a flavour of last Tuesday's event and underlines the people's enthusiasm for language learning from 8 to 80 and the range of benefits of doing so. The orange berets and Mexican sombreros are especially appealing.

The project has also been supported by local radio station, languages forums and through Twitter.

Download_interview_with_Ruth_O_Rourke.mp3

In this five minute audio clip recorded today over Skype, local Routes into Languages rmanager, Ruth O'Rourke explains more about the background to the project and why she feels geordies in particular think learning a language in the north east is 'aaalreet'!

Comments

[Celine Mazoyer]

Great action to promote languages! Newcastle has a great Uni that welcomes students from all over the world (I had the opportunity to be one of them;-)), very active International society among others and open to cultures. And yes, Geordie is almost a different language to English!

[Joe Dale]

Thanks for your comment Celine. A lovely reflection!