Sir, – The ambassadors of five Latin American countries are correct in pointing out that there is a lot of scope for the development of trade links between Ireland and that region (Opinion, May 24th).
What their excellencies are probably too polite to say is that it is incumbent on a country such as ours to also learn the languages that are spoken there, since these are a key to such development. Spanish is spoken in some 20 countries in Latin America, while Brazil, which is economically the strongest of those countries, is Portuguese-speaking. While English is in one sense the language of international business, knowing a person’s native language deepens the potential bond with them immeasurably, and opens many doors more easily.
While this opportunity beckons, our Government, myopically, is dismantling the excellent Modern Languages in Primary Schools Initiative, and is failing to ensure that sufficient provision is made for students at all educational levels to take up foreign languages.
Meanwhile, university students are voting with their feet, as numbers taking Spanish, for instance, continue to increase year-on-year. We need to facilitate not just the learning of Spanish and Portuguese, but also opportunities for students to take more specialised courses, such as the unique BA with Latin American Studies offered here at NUI Galway. – Yours, etc,