Article Details

Article Details

First European survey on language competences

Author: European Commission
Publisher: European Commission
Date of Publication: 2012

Key messages:

  • Almost nine out of ten EU citizens believe that the ability to speak foreign languages is very useful and 98% say that mastering languages will be good for the future of their children.
  • However, tests carried out among teenage pupils in 14 European countries show that only 42% are competent in their first foreign language and just 25% in their second. A significant number, 14% in the case of the first foreign language and 20% in the second, do not achieve even the level of 'basic user'.
  • More than half of Europeans (53%) use languages at work and 45% think they got a better job in their own country thanks to their foreign language skills.
  • Almost three quarters (72%) agree that at least two foreign languages should be taught from a very early age and 77% believe it should be a political priority.
  • The number of Europeans who say they can communicate in a foreign language has fallen slightly, from 56% to 54%. 
  • The number of Europeans who regularly use foreign languages on the internet, through social media for example, has increased by 10 percentage points, from 26% to 36%.
University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages