English, French, German remain most common foreign languages in EU28

[Melech 9,900]

 

In the EU, which has 24 official languages, three remain far ahead of the rest when it comes to secondary school learning

In the EU28 in 2012, English was still the most commonly studied foreign language at lower secondary level, with 97.1 percent of pupils learning it, far ahead of French (34.1 percent), German (22.1 percent) and Spanish (12.2 percent). The importance of English as a foreign language in the European Union is also confirmed by its No. 1 position in nearly all member states.

Since Croatia’s accession, there are 24 official languages recognized within the EU. In addition, there are indigenous regional, minority languages and languages that have been brought into the EU by migrant populations.

On the occasion of the European Day of Languages, celebrated each year Sept. 26, Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, publishes data on language learning at school. 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.

More and more pupils learn Spanish at lower secondary level in the EU

The proportions of pupils at lower secondary level studying English, French, German or Spanish as a foreign language have each increased between 2005 and 2012 at the EU level, albeit in different ways. The most remarkable increase in relative terms during this period was recorded for the learning of Spanish, from 7.4 percent of the total pupils at lower secondary level learning it in 2005 to 12.2 percent in 2012.

English, French, German and Spanish learning at lower secondary level in the EU, 2005–2012

(as a percentage of the total number of pupils at this level)

French studied by 34 percent of pupils at lower secondary level in the EU28, German by 22 percent

In 2012 at lower secondary level, English was the most commonly studied foreign language in the EU28, with shares above 90 percent of pupils in all member states, except Belgium (45.4 percent), Luxembourg (54.4 percent), Hungary (62.6 percent), Bulgaria (86.2 percent) and Portugal (86.4 percent). Between 2005 and 2012, the proportion of pupils learning English at lower secondary level increased in nearly all member states, except Portugal (from 98.3 percent in 2005 to 86.4 percent in 2012), Spain (from 98.4 percent to 98.1 percent) and Latvia (from 96.2 percent to 96.1 percent).

French was studied by more than half of pupils at this level in Luxembourg (100.0 percent), Cyprus (91.7 percent), Romania (85.7 percent), Italy (69.9 percent), Ireland (63.5 percent), the Netherlands (57.7 percent) and Portugal (57.4 percent). Among member states for which data is available, the proportion of students at lower secondary level learning French as a foreign language decreased between 2005 and 2012 in 14 member states, increased in nine and remained stable in Luxembourg.

At least half of the pupils at lower secondary level were studying German as a foreign language in 2012 in Luxembourg (100.0 percent), Denmark (73.5 percent), Poland (69.2 percent), the Netherlands (51.5 percent) and Slovakia (50.2 percent), while Spanish was studied by more than a fifth in Sweden (42.3 percent), France (36.2 percent), Portugal (21.6 percent) and Italy (20.5 percent). The learning of Spanish has increased or remained stable between 2005 and 2012 in all of the member states for which data is available.

Foreign language learning at lower secondary level, 2005-2012 (percentage of pupils)

* EU28 aggregates including 2005 estimates for the Netherlands but excluding the United Kingdom for both 2005 and 2012

: Data not available

- Not applicable

Notes regarding Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg:

1) In Belgium, the official state languages are Dutch, French and German; notably French is considered as a foreign language in the Belgian Flemish Community and Dutch is considered as a foreign language in the Belgian French Community. The percentage of pupils learning French at lower secondary level in the Belgian Flemish Community was 95.4 percent of the total pupils at this level in 2005 and 99.0 percent of the total pupils at this level in 2012.

2) All students in Ireland study Irish in primary and secondary schools. Irish and English are official languages in Ireland.

3) Although the official languages in Luxembourg are French, German and Luxembourgish, for the purpose of education statistics, French and German are counted as foreign languages.

Read more: http://www.praguepost.com/eu-news/41732-english-french-german-remain-most-common-foreign-languages-in-eu28#ixzz3EgqQMqUZ

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Not a surpise tbh 

[Didymus 34,380]

"The percentage of pupils learning French at lower secondary level in the Belgian Flemish Community was 95.4 percent of the total pupils at this level in 2005 and 99.0 percent of the total pupils at this level in 2012."

 

I'd like to know how many members of the Belgian French Community learn Dutch tbh

[craig 680]

Although the official languages in Luxembourg are French, German and Luxembourgish, for the purpose of education statistics, French and German are counted as foreign languages.

 

 

 

First I've heard of Luxembourgish? If it like Flemish?

[Robotboy 1,700]

shocking

[RAMROD 117,125]

English language slays :classy:

[Melech 9,900]

First I've heard of Luxembourgish? If it like Flemish?

Nope,it's like German. Actually it's exactly like German. 

[Luc 4,776]

i think well see a decline of german, french and mandarin and spanish will rise like phoenixes.

[NewUsername 11,756]

"The percentage of pupils learning French at lower secondary level in the Belgian Flemish Community was 95.4 percent of the total pupils at this level in 2005 and 99.0 percent of the total pupils at this level in 2012."

 

I'd like to know how many members of the Belgian French Community learn Dutch tbh

tbh

[TiphEret 1,320]

I expected spanish to be before french but why not...

[Teal Ambition 47,805]

Spanish >>>>>> French

[HANZ 4,380]

i think well see a decline of german, french and mandarin and spanish will rise like phoenixes.

this

[bionic 50,111]

i think well see a decline of german, french and mandarin and spanish will rise like phoenixes.

 

rise more like lotuses