Claro Software Urges Schools To Provide Pupils With Equal Foreign Language Support

July 29, 2009 - PRLog -- London, UK – Claro Software (www.clarosoftware.com), a specialist in assistive learning and language technologies, has urged UK schools to provide pupils with equal foreign language support, regardless of ability and economic background. This comes on the back of the latest figures released by the Department for Children, Schools and Families showing that fewer poor pupils are learning a foreign language at GCSE.

According to the research, just one in four of the poorest teenagers take a modern foreign language at GCSE. In total, 55,342 pupils (74.1 per cent of the total) who receive free school meals – a measure of poverty – were not submitted for a language GCSE last year, compared with just over two thirds (69.5 per cent) two years ago.

Due to the current global recession, The Prince’s Trust has released figures showing UK unemployment hitting a 14-year high of 2.38 million. As such, finding solid employment is getting increasingly difficult. According to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), job seekers should learn a foreign language as it will enhance their CV and improve their chances of being employed.

Businesses are increasingly using a foreign language skill as a differentiator when both looking at potential job candidates and when separating who will keep and lose their jobs. Speaking a foreign language is also important for job growth, as many companies now have international offices and are investing on attracting foreign markets and customers, particularly in the banking and insurance sectors.

Commenting on this latest research, Dave Stevens, Commercial Director at Claro Software said: “The economic climate has dramatically altered the workplace and the skills required of the workforce.  With more people competing for fewer positions, candidates will have to stand out if they are to be noticed among their peers. An ability to speak a second or third language makes them more attractive; changing working patterns and increased mobility across geographical territories means a multi-lingual employee has many advantages.” Stevens added: “Encouraging students to learn additional languages better prepares then for a competitive landscape.”

To help with the study of a foreign language, Claro Software has developed ClaroLingo – assistive learning software for language learning. ClaroLingo lets your computer translate and speak any text in all main European languages, making it the ideal tool for anyone who learns, teaches, or works with different languages. ClaroLingo can also help support English learning for non-English speakers, and also provides support for those who are dyslexic.”

ENDS

Claro Software:
Claro Software is a rapidly growing, innovative software company that develops and licenses "assistive software". Claro uses leading edge speech and imaging technology, and adaptive techniques to make the computer easier to use.

With a fast expanding network of users, customers, partners and licensees around the world, Claro Software’s solutions are widely used for reading and writing support, proofreading, language learning, magnification and general access to the computer. With Windows and Mac versions, mobile USB stick options and network delivered solutions, Claro aims to provide the best choice for the user. For more information, please visit www.clarosoftware.com.

Claro Software UK PR contacts:                      

Adam Clatworthy
NSPR,
Tel: 01628 502604
adam@nspr.co.uk

Aimee Green
Claro Software
Tel: 01772 978421
aimee.green@clarosoftware.com

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