CARDIFF Airport welcomed 16 pupils from Bryn Hafren Comprehensive School to the terminal during the last week of term to give an insight into the benefits of speaking foreign languages when working at an airport.

The visit was part of a scheme called "Languages Champions", established by CILT Cymru in response to the decline in the availability and level of language skills in the UK, and to encourage companies to actively engage in partnerships with a focus on language learning.

The aim of the project is:

*to help students understand the importance of languages as a practical and critical skill for the workplace

*to help teachers to better understand the language needs of the workplace

*to help employers gain an insight into how the education system can support them to tap into crucial employability skills.

The scheme targets pupils in year 9 before they choose which subjects to follow for their GCSEs, to give them a taste of how speaking a foreign language could benefit them in business later in life. The pupils listened to presentations from various members of staff and were taken on a tour around the site to experience the ins and outs of working at an airport. A member of the senior management team who speaks numerous modern languages was one of the speakers, and emphasised the benefits of languages skills when communicating with airlines and tour operators on a global level. Oliver Jaycock, the airport’s Commercial Business Manager, initially visited the school in May 2009 and set a task to year 9 pupils to critique the airport’s website. The pupils worked in pairs and presented the results of their studies to members of the airport’s management team. Oliver commented on the experience: "We’ve been involved in this scheme with CILT Cymru, Bryn Hafren and other schools in the area for a few years, and the airport was pleased to be part of this initiative once again.

"The website is an important aspect of our business, as an information portal and a booking engine, and is constantly being improved, developed and updated. Some of the student’s comments proved very interesting and will be taken on board in our evaluations moving forwards."

"This project will hopefully encourage students to study languages in the future, and we’re glad to be able to work with our local community, and show students how speaking languages can be an advantage in the real world. The school has seen an increase in the uptake of foreign languages by pupils in recent years, and we hope to see this continuing with the help of partnerships between local employers and schools."

Kelly Black, a modern foreign languages teacher at Bryn Hafren School added: "The pupils thoroughly enjoyed being part of this project and have learnt so much. The majority of the pupils who took part have now gone on to study a foreign language at GCSE which is excellent news. I think having a partnership with an airport that is on their doorstep is so important in bringing the message home."

Ceri James, director of CILT Cymru (The National Centre for Foreign Languages) commented: "We at CILT Cymru are delighted by the commitment to this scheme shown by Cardiff Airport. Teachers and students at Bryn Hafren have also risen to the challenge, and have gained a real insight into the ways in which foreign language skills can oil the wheels of international trade and tourism. Congratulations to all partners involved in this innovative project."