The limits of my language are the limits of my world Wittgenstein

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The limits of my language are the limits of my
world (Wittgenstein)

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STATISTICS
56 of citizens in the EU Member States say they
are able to hold a conversation in one language
apart from their mother tongue. 28 of the
respondents state that they speak two foreign
languages well enough to have a
conversation. English remains the most widely
spoken foreign language throughout Europe.
German is the most widely spoken mother tongue.
(Commission 2006)
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The Daily Mails contribution

• The Governments estimate - the first ever
  published - said there were between 310000 and
  570000 illegal immigrants in the country. But
  Migrationwatch said the top figure could be
  870000.
• Adults remember an average of only seven words
  from the languages they studied at school a
  survey suggests.
• Only 2 per cent of those polled know how to ask
  the way to the lavatory in the language they are
  meant to have learned.

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Language Policy 1
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Language Policy 2
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Language Policy 3
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Language Policy
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Action Plan on language learning and linguistic
diversity

• Primary schools
• The Action Plan called for a commitment from
  member states to teach at least two foreign
  languages from a very early age.

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UK government response

• In the financial years 2005-08 the government
  will have invested 60 million to support the
  introduction of primary language learning
  programmes.
• An initial obstacle was the lack of experienced
  teaching and non-teaching staff at primary school
  level

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Action Plan on language learning and linguistic
diversity

• Secondary
• Member States agree that pupils should master at
  least two foreign languages with the emphasis on
  effective communicative ability.

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UK government response

• Following the changes to the Key Stage 4
  curriculum (ages 14-16) from September 2004
  languages ceased to be a compulsory subject and
  instead became a statutory entitlement.
• Even prior to the changes to the Key Stage 4
  curriculum there had been a noticeable decline
  in those being entered for languages at GCSE
  level.

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Action Plan on language learning and linguistic
diversity

• Higher Education
• All students should study abroad preferably in a
  foreign language for at least one term and
  should gain an accepted language qualification as
  part of their degree course.

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UK government response

• Higher Education Institutions in the UK are
  independent autonomous bodies and for reasons
  of academic freedom Ministers are unable to set
  conditions on what their curricula include.
• The demand from students for language degrees has
  fallen and some universities have had to close
  language departments as a result and merge them
  with other faculties.

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Whats the point Everyone speaks English
anyway