英國學者警告稱，現代語言教學因 “嚴格的考試而受到威脅”。他們指責考試管理者對學生的考核標準過于嚴格，導致學生們的壓力越來越大。

文字稿

The Government wants three quarters of students to be taking a modern language GCSE by 2022. Yet entries for them in England have nearly halved over the past 15 years. There’ve been similar steep declines in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. 

英格蘭政府希望到 2022 年，四分之三的學生能參加GCSE（英國普通初級中學畢業文憑）現代語言科目的考試。然而，在過去 15 年里，現代語言科目的考生人數幾乎減少了一半。蘇格蘭、威爾士和北愛爾蘭的考生人數也出現了急劇下降。

152 academics from 36 universities have now written to The Guardian (newspaper) arguing it's because languages exams are harder and more stressful than other subjects. ‘Where’s the incentive to choose a language if you're systematically made to feel rubbish at it?’ the signatories ask.

來自 36 所大學的 152 名學者給《衛報》寫信稱，這是因為語言考試比其它科目更難，壓力更大。學者們問道：“如果一門語言讓你覺得自己一無是處，那么選擇它的動機何在？”

They also accuse England's exam regulator Ofqual of ignoring evidence about severe and unreliable grading and inadequate assessment statistics which they say are driving demoralised learners and teachers out of languages. Ofqual says it takes their concerns seriously, and a comprehensive review of grading standards is already under way.

他們還指責英格蘭資格及考試監督辦公室（Ofqual）忽視擺在眼前的證據，包括苛刻且不可靠的評分體系，以及糟糕的評估統計數據。他們說，這正是把意志消沉的學生和教師趕出語言學習大門之外的原因。英格蘭資格及考試監督辦公室表示，會認真嚴肅地對待學者們的擔憂，對評分標準的全面審查已經開始。

1. 詞匯表

modern language 現代語言
GCSE 英國普通初級中學畢業文憑
halved 減半
declines 下降
stressful 讓人緊張、擔憂的
systematically 系統的
feel rubbish 感到一無是處
unreliable 靠不住的，不可靠的
inadequate 不夠好的，糟糕的
demoralised 垂頭喪氣的，意志消沉的

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題 。

1. True or false? The numbers of students in England taking modern language exams is decreasing.

2. How do some academics feel the subject of modern languages compares with other school subjects?

3. What is it academics feel Ofqual has done in response to evidence about inadequate assessment statistics?

4. How is Ofqual responding to the criticism from the academics?

3. 答案

1. True or false? The numbers of students in England taking modern language exams is decreasing.
True. The report says entries for modern languages in England have nearly halved over the past 15 years.

2. How do some academics feel the subject of modern languages compares with other school subjects?
152 academics have written to The Guardian (newspaper) arguing languages exams are harder and more stressful than other subjects.

3. What is it academics feel Ofqual has done in response to evidence about inadequate assessment statistics?
They are accusing England's exam regulator, Ofqual, of ignoring evidence about severe and unreliable grading and inadequate assessment statistics.

4. How is Ofqual responding to the criticism from the academics?
Ofqual says it takes their concerns seriously and is carrying out a comprehensive review of grading standards.