Introduction

Philosophers of education have struggled over the years to establish the idea of a curriculum based on rational principles; a curriculum untainted by the meddling of social engineers and populist politicians. Nevertheless, it may be inevitable that the curriculum will reflect to some extent the social, economic and political climate of the time. An earlier proposal to extend the teaching of modern foreign languages (MFL) to all British primary schools was officially rejected 25 years ago because no substantial gain in later attainment at the secondary school could be demonstrated; the government lost its nerve and primary modern foreign languages was not extended. Perhaps the time was simply not right but now, in the closing months of the twentieth century, we believe that it is appropriate to review that decision and take a fresh look at the possibility of teaching modern foreign languages to primary-aged children.