Italian lessons despite drop in language learning

Guardian.co.uk has recently launched it's "Learn Italian" series under the travel section. So far this internet-age phrase book complete with audio section has covered Culture & Sport, Food & Shopping and Travel and Accomodation. A useful 'Italian gestures' section is also on-line from the daily's website.
Sally Hunt, General Secretary of the UCU, has praised the Guardian for its efforts although informs of how British Universities are falling behind in foreign language teaching as a trend to close many language departments spreads.
"At a time when demand for fluency in global languages is rising, it is ironic that the University of the West of England, Imperial College and the University of Exeter are joining the ranks of universities to have massively cutbacks in provision of foreign languages," says Ms Hunt and adds "Without the students who could become our future teachers, translators and interpreters we will seriously damage not only our civil society, but how we do business with, and interact with, the rest of the world.