European Day of European Day of LanguagesLanguages

2626thth September September

Which are the four most Which are the four most widely spoken languages widely spoken languages

around the worldaround the world??

• ChineseChinese• EnglishEnglish• HindustaniHindustani• SpanishSpanish

The world's population is The world's population is roughly 6 billion people. roughly 6 billion people.

One and a quarter One and a quarter

billionbillion people speak people speak ChineseChinese

550 million speak 550 million speak EnglishEnglish

Hindustani speakers Hindustani speakers number 500 millionnumber 500 million

Spanish is spoken by 450 Spanish is spoken by 450 millionmillion people worldwide people worldwide

So just under half the So just under half the world's population speak world's population speak

one of those four one of those four languageslanguages

What about the other What about the other half?half?

71% of 71% of Europeans Europeans consider that consider that everyone everyone should know should know a foreign a foreign language.language.

• In Sweden, the In Sweden, the Netherlands and Netherlands and Denmark, more Denmark, more than 85% of than 85% of citizens can citizens can express express themselves in themselves in another language. another language.

• Thats nearly nine Thats nearly nine in every ten in every ten people.people.

•In Britain In Britain two out of two out of three people three people (66%) can (66%) can onlyonly speak speak English. English.

……which means 1 out of which means 1 out of 3 3 cancan speak another speak another

languagelanguage

What tips do you have for What tips do you have for learning languages?learning languages?

• Visit the Visit the country.country.

• Get a penpal or Get a penpal or ePal.ePal.

• listen to CD’s listen to CD’s and music.and music.

• Watch films & Watch films & DVD’s.DVD’s.

• Try websites.Try websites.

Language allows us to share Language allows us to share

ideas and stories with others.ideas and stories with others.

Foreign travel Foreign travel becomes easier becomes easier and more and more enjoyable as enjoyable as you understand you understand more and make more and make new friends. new friends.

You don't have You don't have to be word to be word perfectperfect

People will appreciate People will appreciate when you make the effort when you make the effort to speak their languageto speak their language

That’s why we are That’s why we are celebrating the European celebrating the European Day of Languages today.Day of Languages today.