Knowledge and learning of languages in the european education area

AuthorDirectorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (European Commission), TNS Political & Social
Pages41-63
41
The European Education Area
April 2018
Report
Flash Eurobarometer 466
III. KNOWLEDGE AND LEARNING OF LANGUAGES IN THE EUROPEAN EDUCATION
AREA
This section presents the findings of questions about respondents’ knowledge of languages;
whether they have studied in their first language(s) and which other languages they have studied
in; and whether they would like to learn other languages, and if so, which ones.
1 Knowledge of languages
Respondents were asked how many languages they could read and write in20, and then to indicate
the number of languages in which they would be comfortable following a course of study 21.
Most young European citizens can read and write in more than one language, but only
two thirds can follow a course of study in more than one language
Eight out of ten (80%) respondents say that they are able to read and write in more than one
language. The largest proportion (43%) can use two languages, while over a quarter (27%) can read
and write in three languages, and one in ten (10%) have a command of more than three languages.
One fifth (20%) of those polled cannot read and write in more than one language.
Base: All respondents (N=8,153)
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20
DX9. In how many languages can you read and write? This includes your mother tongue, meaning the first language(s) you learnt as a
child. ONE ANSWER ONLY One; Two; Three; More than three; Don’t know.
21
DX11. In how many languages do you believe that you are comfortable enough to follow your studies? This includes your mother
tongue. ONE ANSWER ONLY One; Two; Three or more; Don’t know.
42
The European Education Area
April 2018
Report
Flash Eurobarometer 466
There is large variation in answers between countries on this question. In all but one country, less
than three in ten of those polled can read and write in only one language: this ranges from nearly
three in ten in Hungary (29%) to less than 5% of those polled in Latvia, Luxembourg (both 4%),
Sweden, Netherlands (both 3%), Malta (2%) and Denmark (1%). The exception is the United
Kingdom, where over two thirds (68%) of respondents have only one language at their disposal.
There is also much variation among the proportions of respondents who can read or write in two
languages. Nearly seven in ten of those polled give this response in Sweden (68%) and Cyprus
(69%), and it is also the majority response in Greece, Denmark (both 56%) and Germany (54%). In
all other countries a minority say they can read or write in two languages, but in most cases at
least a quarter (25%) of respondents give this answer. The exceptions are Latvia (19%) and
Luxembourg (7%). In 20 of the 28 Member States, this is the most frequently cited number of
languages.
In Latvia (57%), a majority of respondents can make use of three languages. In all other countries,
only a minority give this response, but this varies from less than one in ten of those polled in the
United Kingdom (6%) to nearly half of respondents in Malta (46%). Aside from Latvia and Malta,
this is also the most common response in Belgium, Finland (both 37%), Slovakia and Slovenia (both
40%).
In most cases, no more than a fifth (20%) of those polled can use more than three languages. The
most notable exception is Luxembourg, where nearly seven in ten (69%) of respondents give this
answer. In Slovenia, just over a quarter do (26%). In 11 Member States, less than one in ten (10%)
of those surveyed have more than three languages at their disposal, with the lowest proportions in
the United Kingdom and Hungary (both 2%).
Base: All respondents (N=8,153)

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