I was appalled to learn of the proposed cuts to languages and the department of adult and continuing education at the University of Glasgow.
In an increasingly interlinked world, knowledge of other languages and cultures is more important than ever. Providing adult education for "non-traditional" learners is vital, too.
Are all native speakers of English to stumble around the world, clueless, ignorant of the history, politics, literature and language of other countries? If, for whatever reason, an adult should wish to continue learning or start learning again, should he or she just forget it and turn on the television instead?
As a graduate of modern languages from Glasgow (1991, French and German) and a full-time translator who has taught in adult education, I strongly urge the university's management to reconsider.
Eileen Laurie, Malmö, Sweden