Civil Service Languages Network
The Civil Service Languages Network (CSLN) is a network for civil servants with a passion for languages who enjoy immersing themselves in different cultures. Whether you speak five different languages or are beginning your language learning journey, CSLN provides the opportunity for language enthusiasts from all areas of government to engage and create valuable connections. CSLN aims to improve language capability across government, with 41 language groups offering conversation sessions, speaker events and network socials, as well as offering members the opportunity to put their language skills to use on government projects, or by helping charities.
Who we are
Are you a keen linguist or looking to improve your language skills? Are you interested in exploring the languages, cultures and customs of countries and communities around the world? Can your business unit or department benefit from specialist language and intercultural expertise? Do you want to join a community of like-minded civil servants passionate about languages? Then the Civil Service Languages Network is the place for you!
Our values
Unique - CSLN is one of a kind. It holds a unique position within the UK Civil Service and boasts a large wealth of linguistic and cultural resources. Staff enjoy the opportunities that CSLN provides to build their knowledge and networks.
Fun - CSLN is a staff network made for colleagues, run by colleagues. Staff engage with CSLN to socialise and meet like-minded people, whilst learning new things about the languages and cultures that interest them.
Impactful - CSLN taps into the linguistic and cultural skills members have to support the UK Civil Service and network partners, such as the NHS and schools in different regions of the UK. The projects CSLN takes on make a positive difference to the lives of citizens.
Inclusive - CSLN is a safe space which is open, tolerant and inclusive of members from all backgrounds. Members respect each other’s differences and treat others with dignity and respect.
What we do
Our network activity is split into two strands - a staff network of individual language groups and a unique linguistic resource for Departments.
As a Staff Network, CSLN is:
- A forum for staff to meet like-minded individuals online and in person at our social events.
- A chance to boost foreign language skills through tandems and conversation sessions.
- A place for members to learn more about international topics at events and guest lectures.
- Is made by colleagues for colleagues - this network is run on an entirely voluntary basis.
As a key support on special projects, CSLN:
- Taps into the linguistic and cultural expertise of our members to support departments and teams that need language capability.
- Uses its influence to explain the importance of languages in and to government.
- Is an active member of the Cross-Government Languages group, aiming to build a sustainable and collaborative Languages community across government.
What we offer
Language Groups
From Afrikaans to Urdu, British Sign Language to Swedish and everything in between, the Civil Service Languages Network is made up of more than 13,500 government employees, based in the UK and overseas. The central network comprises more than 40 individual language groups, each with dedicated leads who facilitate activities both for their respective groups, and the wider network. m
Which languages do we offer?
Our individual language networks are set up and run by CSLN members on a volunteer basis, so the list of groups is always growing. Our current networks on offer are:
- Afrikaans
- Arabic / عربي
- Bengali / বাংলা
- Bilingual Parenting
- Western South Slavic Network
- British Sign Language (BSL)
- Bulgarian / български
- Cantonese / 廣東話
- Classics
- Czech
- Dutch / Nederlands
- English Skills
- Farsi / فارسی
- French / français
- Georgian / ქართული
- German / Deutsch
- Greek / Ελληνικά
- Hebrew / עִברִיתת
- Hungarian / magyar
- Indonesian / Bahasa Indonesia
- Irish / Gaelige
- Italian / italiano
- Japanese / 日本語
- Korean / 한국어
- Mandarin / 普通话
- Nordic Languages
- Panjabi / ਪੰਜਾਬੀ / پن٘جابی
- Polish / Polski
- Portuguese / português
- Romanian / Română
- Russian / русский язык
- Scots
- Scottish Gaelic / Gàidhlig na h-Alba
- Spanish / español
- Swahili / Kiswahili
- Tagalog
- Tamil / Malayalam தமிழ் / മലയാളം
- Thai / ภาษาไทย
- Turkish / Türkçe
- Ukrainian / Українська
- Urdu / اردو
- Welsh / Cymraeg
You can join as many groups as you like, and take part in activities such as:
- Language tandems that rotate regularly so you can speak with other civil servants in your chosen language,
- Lunchtime conversation groups where you can chat informally over lunch with small communities that share your language interests
- Speaker events where experts from public and private organisations explore the evolution of your group’s language, the cultures and communities that speak it, and the geo-political contexts that surround it today. These often tend to be in English so that other CSLN members can join.
Other network opportunities
The wider CSLN team also organises the following:
Diverse speaker events on a range of topics
Members hear regularly from civil servants and high-profile guests (diplomats, interpreters, academics) about their experience with languages at work or in their area of expertise in languages. These events are not language-specific and are organised by the central CSLN team.
Past guests include Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia, Ria Perkins, Expert in Forensic Linguistics at DSTL and Luis Von Ahn, CEO and Co-Founder of Duolingo Inc.
In September 2023, the CSLN celebrated European week of languages in a week-long programme of events exploring how languages play a crucial role in shaping international events, featuring former Ambassadors and Diplomats in British Embassies, among other speakers
Inter-language tandems
Members can choose to be paired with a partner to share language expertise. Both partners are proficient in a language the other would like to practise.
In-person social events
The CSLN team also organises events where members can meet up and network with colleagues in person. Such events have included CSLN Picnic in the Park in London, and socials all over the UK (Darlington, Manchester and Liverpool to name a few!).
Support on special projects
Being such a rich and active network, the Civil Service Languages Network taps into the linguistic and cultural expertise of our members to provide bespoke resources to departments and teams that need language skills and robust intercultural awareness.
In recent years, we have supported the following:
GSCU Languages Capability Survey
CSLN supported the design and promotion of the Government Skills and Curriculum Unit’s Language Capability Survey to map language skills across government and examine how these skills can be recognised, developed and deployed. Thanks to CSLN, the survey drew roughly 4,000 responses from more than 20 departments and ALBs.
Schools and University Outreach
Government Languages Outreach (GLO) was founded in early 2022 as a collaboration between CSLN Outreach team, British Council, and GCHQ. GLO seeks to champion language learning among young people, with a focus on promoting the opportunities unlocked by learning a language to young people, with a focus on those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
We deliver virtual events to thousands of pupils at a time, featuring speakers from the Civil Service and elsewhere explaining why they love speaking another language and how they’ve used it in their careers. We aim to have speakers representing both school-taught languages and home, heritage and community languages to reflect the experiences of the pupils in the audience. Previous speakers range from diplomats and intelligence officers to trade managers and justice policymakers.
We often run events with individual academy trusts, but we also run events themed around a specific language or location. Our current priorities include expanding our events into Scotland and increasing our online resources. If you’ve used a language in your Civil Service career, or you know of a school that would be interested in attending an event, we’d love to hear from you: csin.outreach@faststream.civilservice.gov.uk.
NHS Booster Drive Support
2021-12-24 NHS Booster Drive CSLN Montage Final OFF
Translation for Windrush
CLSN members supported the Home Office to proofread documents in Gujarati, Bengali, Urdu and Panjabi. These materials will be used to reach people eligible for the Windrush documentation and compensation schemes and to encourage them to apply.
COP27 2022
Volunteers from the Arabic Network, run and managed by the Civil Service Languages Network, recently supported the UK delegation to COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh by training them in basic Egyptian Arabic language. Delegates were also given workshops in understanding Arabic culture and navigating Egyptian customs ahead of the event.
FCDO China Capability and Mandarin Network funded Mandarin learning opportunities
The CSLN Mandarin Network has worked with Cabinet Office and the FCDO to address the lack of Mandarin speakers and Chinese expertise highlighted in the 2023 Integrated Review Refresh.
We received Cabinet Office funding to develop a Mandarin Pilot which supported 150 learners with over 50 hours of fully funded lessons. Since then, with FCDO funding support, the Network has run two Mandarin Immersion Days and organised for 34 members to be tested on their Mandarin abilities. These programmes will run again this year. Our intention is to support colleagues across Government to build their China expertise and Mandarin language skills to support wider xHMG China Capability.
CSLN Chaperones
CSLN provides fluent speakers versed with good knowledge in a particular area of discourse to support dialogue with international stakeholders as Chaperones/Greeters. The greeters may offer simultaneous interpretation, logistical support, explain contexts, and generally serve as intermediaries between delegates. Ahead of meetings, chaperones are given contextual and cross-cultural briefing for adequate immersion. A DBT team have recently benefited from this; with the network providing a French speaker with knowledge in trade in the region to support engagement with a Senegalese delegate.
What we’ve achieved
More than 15,000 members in three years
Since October 2020, we ’ve established over 42 language groups from Afrikaans to Urdu, British Sign Language to Swedish and everything in between, and a Bilingual Parenting group. We now have more than 13,500 members participating across Whitehall, in the UK and overseas, which is comparable to a small department. To achieve this in so little time is no mean feat.
Recognition from the Chartered Institute of Linguists
In March 2022, we were awarded the prestigious Threlford Cup from the Chartered Institute of Linguists, presented by patron Prince Michael of Kent. The accolade is awarded for promoting the learning of languages and intercultural dialogue with significant reach, both numerically and geographically. This recognition marks the huge efforts of volunteers and members since the network’s foundation in October 2020 to build an active, growing community around languages within the Civil Service of such a scale.
Aims for 2025 and beyond
15,000 members
This would be a real milestone for us. If you’re interested in languages, we’d love to have you along!
Opportunities
We are committed to creating exciting opportunities where your language skills can truly make an impact and open doors to new possibilities at work. If your department could make use of our services, please get in touch
Events
As part of our key offer to members, we will continue to ensure that our events are the place to be for languages enthusiasts! Join us as we embrace the rich tapestry of languages in Government.
Support on special projects
We continue to harness our collective knowledge to give a linguistic makeover to Government projects requiring languages
Contact us and get involved
If you are a Civil Servant employed by either a central government department or executive non-departmental body, you can sign up using this registration form. Please note that if you do not sign up with a government email or British Council you will not be registered.
Do you speak a language we do not currently cater for? Do you want to pitch an event? Can you provide PR support or a slot in your directorate-wide meeting to share our work with your team? Anything else? Please get in touch at languages.network@faststream.civilservice.gov.uk.