Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 16/05/2025Another year of SATs tests in English and Maths for 10 year olds over. Has anyone ever researched if these tests improve attainment? Improve schools? Has Ofsted improved schools? Cost benefit? But more mental health support? Kids and teachers need it, not in 2030, but now. 000
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 12/05/2025Editors should be required to post the corrections in the same size, on the same page, as the original false article. 062
Reposted by Birgit SmithGerman at Portsmouth @germanatportsmouth.bsky.social · 03/05/20253 May 1945: The ship 'Cap Arcona', laden with concentration camp survivors, is sunk by British bombers in the Baltic www.ndr.de/geschichte/c... via @ndr.dendr.deBomben auf die "Cap Arcona": Briten versenken am 3. Mai 1945 Schiff mit evakuierten KZ-HäftlingenKurz vor Kriegsende, am 3. Mai 1945, versenken Briten die "Cap Arcona" und die "Thielbek" in der Lübecker Bucht. Sie vermuten deutsche Truppen auf den Schiffen - ein Irrtum: An Bord sind 7.500 KZ-Häft... 063
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 03/05/2025Troubling times ahead. Re-energize in nature and challenge the lies. 040
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 18/04/2025And don't forget, you are not allowed to dance either. 020
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 09/04/2025Multilingual capabilities are integral to research excellence, impact and integrity in a globalised and connected research environment. Diverse language skills enrich and expand research across all academic disciplines. www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publications...thebritishacademy.ac.ukMultilingualism in UK academic researchThis report evidences the recognition, role and use of multilingualism in UK academic research fields outside Modern Languages. 010
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 02/04/2025Great ideas to connect students. However, AI moves very quickly, and universities do not. Questioning the environmental impact is valid, but hasn't that ship sailed? 031
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 02/04/2025Looking forward to ' Innovative technology to create a sense of community'. 120
Reposted by Birgit SmithErik Hansson @erikhansson.bsky.social · 31/03/2025Europe’s language revolution, now more visible than ever www.brusselstimes.com/1464390/euro... via @brusselstimes.com #langskybrusselstimes.comEurope’s language revolution, now more visible than everHow successful are European countries at unifying their populations linguistically? Europe’s rapid linguistic transformation can now be answered in a few clicks. 044
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 18/03/2025Herzlichen Glückwunsch! Wonderful news! It's great that the department I spent my whole academic life in gets the recognition it deserves. Great students, great colleagues! 110
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 17/03/2025@globalaffairslu.bsky.social come on German students, shout out for German! #shoutoutforgerman 041
Reposted by Birgit SmithGerman Embassy London @uk.diplo.de · 05/03/2025Shout-out to all the German teachers in the UK 🫡 From 17-21 March, join our week-long celebration of the German language by using #ShoutOutForGerman to showcase the amazing things you do in your classrooms to get students excited about learning German! 04116
Reposted by Birgit SmithSarah Mercer @smercergraz.bsky.social · 04/03/2025So looking forward to this conference. The call for papers is still open for those interested - it will be in person and online on 2-3 May. Hope to maybe see some of you in Uzbekistan! Website is being updated ongoing. fltal.orgfltal.orgFLTALFLTAL 051
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 16/02/2025www.spiegel.de/politik/deut...spiegel.deBerlin, Mainz, Düsseldorf: Zehntausende Menschen demonstrieren gegen rechtsAm Wochenende sind in vielen deutschen Städten wieder Menschen gegen rechte Politik und für die Demokratie auf die Straße gegangen. In Berlin versammelten sich rund 30.000 Demonstrierende. 000
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 16/02/2025Da hat sich die GB Regierung wieder ein Eigentor geschossen. 000
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 16/02/2025Please support researchers in the US. Thank you. 000
Reposted by Birgit SmithÓscar Perea Rodríguez @opr71.eurosky.social · 16/02/2025I just signed this declaration. If you think this is an important matter, please join us and sign it too! 011
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 15/02/2025Is the lack of language learning coming home to roost? Fewer kids take GCSE and A levels in languages, and universities have reduced degree programmes. In the EU, everyone learns at least 2 foreign languages. When will the UK wake up? 011
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 13/02/2025Today is National School Governors Awareness Day. Governors are the largest volunteer force in the country. We all bring lots of dedication and commitment and give our time, energy, and expertise to help schools thrive across the country. 000
Reposted by Birgit SmithCharlotte Baker @cabaker.bsky.social · 11/02/2025Exciting news! 🌟 The call for proposals for the International Albinism Conference at Lancaster University in September 2025 is now open. www.lancaster.ac.uk/global-affai...lancaster.ac.ukCfP: International Conference on Albinism at Lancaster University, September 2025 - Lancaster UniversityTo mark 10 years of the mandate of the Independent Expert on the Rights of Persons with Albinism, Professor Charlotte Baker from the School of Global Affairs is co-organising an in-person conference t... 063
Reposted by Birgit SmithÓscar Perea Rodríguez @opr71.eurosky.social · 05/02/2025It's not a risk, it's the reality. Humanities have been ornaments all over in the last decade. Now it's already too late to modify anything, unless a significant, radical and rather revolutionary change may occur in Higher Education curricula and, above all, management. 011
Reposted by Birgit SmithInstitute of Languages, Cultures and Societies @ilcs.bsky.social · 05/02/2025"Cardiff has embraced the entirely bizarre proposition that the global and transtemporal examination of culture is possible even without the provision of languages at degree level. There are very many reasons why this is alarming." 👇👇timeshighereducation.comCardiff’s closure of modern languages will tongue-tie its humanitiesThe global examination of culture is not possible without languages at degree level, say Wendy Ayres-Bennett, Charles Burdett and Emma Cayley 03821
Reposted by Birgit SmithInstitute of Languages, Cultures and Societies @ilcs.bsky.social · 03/02/2025Join our seminar next Friday (14 Feb) led by Charlotte Ryland, looking at the Languages Gateway, its purpose and how it can function in the most effective way possible 👇ilcs.sas.ac.ukThinking Strategically: The Languages Gateway 044
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 02/02/2025How can we stop this 'catastrophic decline in language learning'? 131
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 01/02/2025Could we please have an over 30s migration deal too? 000
Reposted by Birgit SmithChartered Institute of Linguists @ciol-linguists.bsky.social · 30/01/2025The next CertTrans exams are in March - there is still 3 weeks to register! Download the CertTrans Study Guide – essential reading with all you need to know about the qualification and how to prepare for it: www.ciol.org.uk/take-CertTrans #Professional #Translators #CIOL #CertTrans #Translation 011
Reposted by Birgit SmithLaurence Totelin @ltotelin.bsky.social · 30/01/2025Petition · Save Cardiff University Ancient History Degree - United Kingdom · Change.org search.app/mhvkW7kfKfNX...change.orgThe world’s platform for changeChange.org is the world’s largest petition platform, using technology to empower more than 200 million users to create the change they want to see. 14139
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 29/01/2025See Cardiff University proposing the closure of degree schemes. Languages under threat yet again when the country needs them the most. 000
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 17/12/2024Health of Moana, Elsa and co: do the get Covid? Whopping cough? 020
Reposted by Birgit SmithYorkshire Bylines @yorkshirebylines.co.uk · 17/12/2024🇪🇺 UK’s settled status system could leave EU citizens out in the cold EU nationals in UK and Britons abroad both face hurdles in keeping full rights and representation By Martin Banksyorkshirebylines.co.ukUK’s settled status system could leave EU citizens out in the coldEU nationals in UK and Britons abroad both face hurdles in keeping full rights and representation 07636
Reposted by Birgit SmithPhilipp Krämer @phkraemer.bsky.social · 13/12/2024Universities all over Europe are cutting language programs and closing the doors to the world. We want to get a more complete picture: where, when, why? If you know of any such cases, please tell us (and share the link with your language and linguistics contacts)! elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/13... 18279218
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 13/12/2024School of Global Affairs @Lancaster University on tour again at St Olaves Grammar School, Orpington. Wonderful young Germanists discussing the value of learning languages in the age of AI. Followed by German reunification and Good Bye Lenin. Thank you for making me feel so welcome. Frohe Weihnachten 020
Reposted by Birgit SmithDelphine Grass @delphinegrass.bsky.social · 11/12/2024Review of “Translation as Creative-Critical Practice” by Mariana Javornik Čubrić. “Grass challenges the traditional postulates of the field of translation studies, aiming to inspire renewed activity in translation as a field of political and theoretical resistance.” linguistlist.org/issues/35/34...linguistlist.org LINGUIST List 35.3431 Review: Translation; Translation as Creative–Critical Practice: Javornik Čubrić (2023) The LINGUIST List, International Linguistics Community Online. 051
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 06/12/2024KI bleibt und sich weiter verbessern. Wir müssen unseren kids und Studenten beibringen, wie sie KI zu ihrem Vorteil ohne Plagiat benutzen können. Unser Unterricht muss sich dementsprechend ändern. Zukunft, here we come. 020
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 06/12/2024Livestream seminar from Xi'an. Have they opened up the big mount yet? 110
Reposted by Birgit SmithTony McEnery @tonymcenery.bsky.social · 05/12/2024Special issue of Language Testing on using spoken dialogue systems for testing speaking proficiency. Abstracts for proposed papers due 1st Feb 2025: journals.sagepub.com/page/ltj/spe...journals.sagepub.comSage Journals: Discover world-class researchSubscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher. 052
Birgit Smith @birgit2014.bsky.social · 03/12/2024Will reform change the decline in language learning? Maybe. Will reform be too slow? Probably. It's not 'just' curriculum change that is needed, it is also a change in attitude towards language learning. There is a hunger out there, we just need to tap into it and enthuse young people. 020
Reposted by Birgit SmithGerman at Portsmouth @germanatportsmouth.bsky.social · 02/12/2024To mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, the BBC's Talking Movies travelled to the German capital to look at how that momentous event affected film-makers. www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis...bbc.co.ukTalking Movies - German Cinema ClassicsTo mark the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989, Talking Movies has travelled to the German capital to look at how that momentous event affected film-makers. 031
Reposted by Birgit SmithGerman at Portsmouth @germanatportsmouth.bsky.social · 02/12/2024'Berlin Wall' ('Preis der Freiheit') is now available to watch via Walter Presents on Channel 4. Set in the late 1980s, the drama focuses on two sisters who take divergent political paths in East Germany. What effect will their actions have as the Wall comes down? www.channel4.com/programmes/b...channel4.comBerlin WallGripping German drama from Walter Presents set in the late 1980s as the Wall comes down 052
Reposted by Birgit SmithMike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 28/11/2024"Like many other parts of the world, the UK is in the firm grip of an epidemic of disinformation and misinformation" A good list of origins of the problem - and tools we need to combat it.northeastbylines.co.ukHow the UK became a nation of misinformation and disinformationLike many other parts of the world, the UK is in the firm grip of an epidemic of disinformation and misinformation 531306552