Farewell to Isabella Moore

After 4 years as the CEO of CILT, Isabella Moore will be leaving shortly to set up a language business with her daughter. Isabella has enjoyed a varied and distinguished career working with languages. She grew up speaking Polish as well as English, she studied French and German and was also a student for a while at the University of Warsaw. She has a diploma in translation, an honorary doctorate from Aston University for her services to languages and she is also a Fellow of the Institute of Languages. Her work has taken her not just to schools, colleges and universities but also down coal-mines and even on helicopters above the North Sea! She now gives this message to all those involved in primary languages. Isabella says: “My message for primary language teachers would first of all be to congratulate everyone on the huge achievements of the last few years. I heard recently that over 70% of primary schools now teach a language in curriculum time and that is really an achievement to celebrate for teachers, headteachers, children and school communities. I admire all the commitment, enthusiasm and energy I see in schools around the country.

What I’ve also seen in primary is this innovative practice and methodology that is being used. This is so stimulating and engaging for children. Primary teachers have a huge responsibility, as it is at that formative stage that language learning is made accessible and motivating. In primary schools language learning is very much about enjoyment, enthusiasm, challenge and learning about other cultures. I’m pleased to note language teaching is also very motivating and enjoyable for teachers!

There are other benefits of early language learning to note too; the British Chamber of Commerce undertook a piece of research recently that showed that adults who had enjoyed the opportunity of learning languages in early life are far more confident in achieving that ease of speaking later in life.

So in conclusion, I would say a huge thank you to everyone involved in those spheres and encourage you to keep the good work going. I would also like to invite you to reflect that these youngsters, that are now enjoying their language learning with you, will one day be adults and will then, thanks to your efforts, have the confidence and willingness to learn and speak other languages, and therefore contribute enormously to the improvement of international trade and global understanding. They will also derive great enjoyment from using them, maybe when on holiday. They may not be thinking about that now but that is the impact that you will have on those young children in their later lives.”

Thank you Isabella and we wish you well.