Wales' New Mentoring Program Boosts Language Enrollment

0:00On April 19th, a new mentoring program in Wales is flipping the script on falling language classes. Led by Cardiff University, it's boosting GCSE signups after years of drops. Entries jump 3.6% in 2023-24, then 9.6% in 2024-25, hitting 4. 1,292 students in 2025. Kids who once skipped French or German are now all in. The twist? No boring vocab drills at first. Mentors dive into sports, culture, body language, and gestures to spark interest. University students share real life vibes, like anime pulling one mentor into Japanese or Turkish shows leading to fluency. Now in 111 schools and starting in 15 back in 2015, sessions sneak in many language tasters. Students are feeling a big time. Year 10 kid, Hugo thought languages were pointless until the course hooked him. He's tackling Mandarin for his Duke of Edinburgh award.

1:00Pears like Jake, Geekdow drawn Chinese and Japanese scripts, calling it tough, but fun. Others say it busts the myth that English is enough. Opening job doors and global chats. Teachers see the shift too. At C's goal, Penn Ryan Dewey, French uptake exploded, thanks to young mentors zooming from Paris with cool backdrops. Victoria Row calls the rise dramatic, changing how kids view languages as gateways to new worlds. Not just menu orders. This cultural remix is proving languages matter more than ever. Pulling whales back from dire 2030 predictions and inspiring a fresh wave of, learners ready to connect across borders.