Motivation of UK school pupils towards foreign languages: a large-scale survey at Key Stage 3

Motivation is one of the most significant predictors of success in foreign language learning. While individual and governmental commitment to the learning of foreign languages is growing throughout most of Europe and across the globe, it is stuttering in the United Kingdom. An entitlement to language learning in primary school is not yet fully in place, whilst the removal of language from the core curriculum at Key Stage 4 (ages 14 to 16) has led to a dramatic fall in numbers of language learners. Among national initiatives seeking to enhance learners’ interest in languages among school pupils are Specialist Language Colleges and the Languages Ladder. The latter, by certifying achievement through its associated accreditation scheme Asset Languages, seeks to engender a sense of success and motivate continuation of language study. This article reports on a study conducted in 2005-06 of the language learning motivation of over ten thousand school pupils at Key Stage 3 – the only group currently obliged to study a foreign language. The study analyses the nature of learner motivation and its relationship with gender, level of study (Years 7, 8 and 9) and type of school, and thus provides evidence for possible measures to increase numbers of teenagers studying a foreign language, and a baseline against which the success of policy initiatives can be measured in the future

Impact of primary kidney disease on the effects of empagliflozin in patients with chronic kidney disease: secondary analyses of the EMPA-KIDNEY trial

Background: The EMPA KIDNEY trial showed that empagliflozin reduced the risk of the primary composite outcome of kidney disease progression or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic kidney disease mainly through slowing progression. We aimed to assess how effects of empagliflozin might differ by primary kidney disease across its broad population. Methods: EMPA-KIDNEY, a randomised, controlled, phase 3 trial, was conducted at 241 centres in eight countries (Canada, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, the UK, and the USA). Patients were eligible if their estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 20 to less than 45 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or 45 to less than 90 mL/min per 1·73 m2 with a urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) of 200 mg/g or higher at screening. They were randomly assigned (1:1) to 10 mg oral empagliflozin once daily or matching placebo. Effects on kidney disease progression (defined as a sustained ≥40% eGFR decline from randomisation, end-stage kidney disease, a sustained eGFR below 10 mL/min per 1·73 m2, or death from kidney failure) were assessed using prespecified Cox models, and eGFR slope analyses used shared parameter models. Subgroup comparisons were performed by including relevant interaction terms in models. EMPA-KIDNEY is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03594110. Findings: Between May 15, 2019, and April 16, 2021, 6609 participants were randomly assigned and followed up for a median of 2·0 years (IQR 1·5–2·4). Prespecified subgroupings by primary kidney disease included 2057 (31·1%) participants with diabetic kidney disease, 1669 (25·3%) with glomerular disease, 1445 (21·9%) with hypertensive or renovascular disease, and 1438 (21·8%) with other or unknown causes. Kidney disease progression occurred in 384 (11·6%) of 3304 patients in the empagliflozin group and 504 (15·2%) of 3305 patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·62–0·81]), with no evidence that the relative effect size varied significantly by primary kidney disease (pheterogeneity=0·62). The between-group difference in chronic eGFR slopes (ie, from 2 months to final follow-up) was 1·37 mL/min per 1·73 m2 per year (95% CI 1·16–1·59), representing a 50% (42–58) reduction in the rate of chronic eGFR decline. This relative effect of empagliflozin on chronic eGFR slope was similar in analyses by different primary kidney diseases, including in explorations by type of glomerular disease and diabetes (p values for heterogeneity all >0·1). Interpretation: In a broad range of patients with chronic kidney disease at risk of progression, including a wide range of non-diabetic causes of chronic kidney disease, empagliflozin reduced risk of kidney disease progression. Relative effect sizes were broadly similar irrespective of the cause of primary kidney disease, suggesting that SGLT2 inhibitors should be part of a standard of care to minimise risk of kidney failure in chronic kidney disease. Funding: Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly, and UK Medical Research Council

Making the case for languages

A CILT series for language teachersSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

'The inclusive way' hackathon: inclusive wayfinding and pedagogy (Hackathon de maneira inclusiva: orientação e pedagogia inclusiva)

This paper discusses the opportunities and challenges for learning about and building skills for inclusive practice through a two-day, multidisciplinary, collaborative hackathon. ‘The inclusive way’ brought together students and staff from different disciplines and study levels, people with disabilities and industry professionals. Working on-site, project teams explored an inclusive wayfinding brief, developing and appraising prototypes for inclusive practice in response to the physical site and its immediate surroundings. This presentation reflects on the hackathon as a pedagogic approach, highlighting its potential and limitations for communication and information design education in the 21st century. Este artigo discute oportunidades e desafios na aprendizagem e no desenvolvimento de competências para práticas inclusivas por meio de um hackathon colaborativo, multidisciplinar de dois dias. ‘A forma inclusiva’ reuniu estudantes e profissionais de diferentes disciplinas e níveis de ensino, pessoas com deficiência e profissionais da indústria. As equipas do projeto exploraram a trabalhar no local um briefing inclusivo de orientação, desenvolvendo e avaliando protótipos para práticas inclusivas em resposta ao local físico e o seu ambiente imediato. Esta apresentação reflete sobre o hackathon como abordagem pedagógica, destacando o seu potencial e limitações para a educação em comunicação e design de informação no século XXI

Making the case for languages Pathfinder 8

A CILT series for language teachersAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:3661.958F(ED--340-246)(microfiche) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo