23/06/2012 03:30 (75 Day 14:24 minutes ago)
The FINANCIAL -- 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, according to a new
Eurobarometer opinion poll on EU citizens' attitudes towards
multilingualism and foreign language learning.
However, a separate European Commission study, the first European Survey on Language Competences, highlights that there is a gap between aspirations and reality when it comes to foreign language skills in practice: 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'.
Read more:
http://finchannel.com/Main_News/B_Schools/111649_98%25_say_language_learning_is_good_for_their_children,_but_tests_highlight_skills_gap/
