Speaking role

This is a great way of countering children's reluctance to tackle foreign tongues. It presents a real incentive for them to immerse themselves in a host of languages, from the traditional French and German to Arabic, Mandarin, and even semaphore. This type of teaching, tried at Yorkshire Air Museum yesterday, could be rolled out across the region. What starts out as a bit of fun could end up playing a vital role in helping to prepare the next generation of success stories in industries like enterprise, engineering and academia.

There are, however, dozens more fields in which being bilingual can make a difference. For the children involved, it could open a host of opportunities for foreign work and travel – and all the while adding a bit of prestige to Britain internationally.