Monday, September 26, 2011

10th European Day of Languages: English, French and German are taught the most

In 2009, 95% of students in the cycle of secondary education in the EU27 have studied English as a foreign language. Behind, French, German and Spanish are competing for the second place. Discover the Eurostat report.In the EU27 in 2009, 82% of pupils at primary and lower secondary level and 95% of those in upper secondary level general programmes1 were studying English as a foreign language. The second most commonly studied foreign language at primary and lower secondary level was French (16% of pupils), followed by German (9%) and Spanish (6%), while at upper secondary level it was German (27%), followed by French (26%) and Spanish (19%).

On the occasion of the 10th European Day of Languages, celebrated each year on 26 September, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, publishes data on language learning of school pupils. The general objectives of this event are to alert the public to the importance of language learning, to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe and to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.

French second most commonly studied foreign language in primary and lower secondary level…

In 2009, at primary and lower secondary level, English was the most commonly studied language, with shares as high as 100% in Malta, 99% in Spain and Italy and 98% in Austria. French was the most commonly studied foreign language in Belgium, Ireland and the United Kingdom, while in Luxembourg it was German. There was more diversity in the second most commonly studied language with French and German recorded in seven Member States each, Russian in four, Spanish in three, Italian in two and Dutch and Swedish in one each.

… and German in upper secondary level

In upper secondary education, English was also the most commonly studied language, with over 90% in all Member States, except Hungary and Malta. French remained the most commonly studied language in Ireland and the United Kingdom and German in Luxembourg. The second most commonly studied language in upper secondary education was less diverse than in primary/lower secondary with German and French recorded in ten Member States each, Russian in three, Spanish in two and Swedish in one.

Source Press room - European Commission

More information Press room - European Commission

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