Europese kinderen beginnen eerder met leren vreemde taal (en)
A new report on teaching foreign languages at school reveals encouraging information on early language learning
Children are starting to learn foreign languages at an increasingly early age in Europe: most of them begin when they are 6-9 years old. This is what is said in a new report by Eurydice/Eurostat, produced in close cooperation with the European Commission: Key Data on Teaching Languages at School in Europe 2012.
According to the new data available, a majority of countries or regions have lowered the starting age for compulsory language learning in the past 15 years, with the exception of Belgium (French-speaking community), Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Finland, Sweden and the UK. In some countries it is even possible to start learning a language in pre-school. This is the case of the German speaking community in Belgium, for instance, where children can begin at the age of 3.
The report highlights that an increasing number of pupils now learn two languages for at least one year during compulsory education. On average, in 2009/10, 60.8% of lower secondary education students were learning two or more foreign languages - an increase of 14.1% compared to 2004/05. During the same period, the proportion of primary education pupils not learning a foreign language fell from 32.5% to 21.8%.
The report also confirms that English is the most taught foreign language in nearly all European countries, with French, Spanish, German and Russian following far behind.
The report also presents trends in language teaching over the years and analyses the present situation compared to the past. In this context, it is worth noting that only few countries require trainee teachers to spend an immersion period abroad.
The report provides a picture of language teaching in the 32 participating countries and measures 61 indicators in five categories: context, organisation, participation, teachers and teaching processes.
If you want to know more, read the press release.
The full report can be found here .