Learning a foreign language is a necessary part of being a member of a multicultural society:  it provides an opening to other cultures and should foster pupils’ curiosity and deepen their understanding of the world. A high-quality languages education should give pupils the opportunity to express their ideas and thoughts in another language and to understand and respond to its speakers, both in speech and in writing. It should also provide opportunities for them to communicate for practical purposes and learn new ways of thinking.  Language teaching should provide the foundation for learning further languages, equipping pupils to study and work in other countries.