Minority Language Minority Language ConferenceConference

Hanasaari-The Hanasaari-The Swedish-Finnish Swedish-Finnish Cultural CentreCultural Centre

November 27th and November 27th and 28th 200828th 2008

The EU as a Language The EU as a Language Community. The Linguistic Community. The Linguistic Competence of EU Citizens Competence of EU Citizens

TodayToday

Johan HäggmanJohan Häggman

Member of Cabinet of Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Leonard Commissioner Leonard

Orban, Commissioner for Orban, Commissioner for MultilingualismMultilingualism

Languages of the EULanguages of the EU

23 official languages23 official languages More than 60 regional- and More than 60 regional- and

minority languages and languages minority languages and languages of migrants. of migrants.

Language policy is competence of Language policy is competence of the Member States.the Member States.

Eurobarometer study ”Europeans Eurobarometer study ”Europeans and their languages”and their languages”

Today’s multilingual Today’s multilingual EuropeEurope

The mother tongue of most Europeans is The mother tongue of most Europeans is one of the state languages of the country one of the state languages of the country (for instance 100% of Hungarians and (for instance 100% of Hungarians and Portuguese, 99% Greeks name their Portuguese, 99% Greeks name their state languages as their native tongues. state languages as their native tongues.

However, a there is minority speaking However, a there is minority speaking either an official EU language (such as either an official EU language (such as the Swedes in Finland) or a non the Swedes in Finland) or a non European language. (14% in European language. (14% in Luxembourg speak another EU language Luxembourg speak another EU language and 10% in slovakia speak Hungarian).and 10% in slovakia speak Hungarian).

Today’s multilingual Today’s multilingual EuropeEurope

The cases where a sizable number of The cases where a sizable number of the country speaks a regional and the country speaks a regional and minority language are the Baltic States, minority language are the Baltic States, Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Finland, Belgium, Bulgaria, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Spain Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Spain and the United Kingdom. and the United Kingdom.

Only 1,4% speak a regional and Only 1,4% speak a regional and minority languages not announced in minority languages not announced in the Eurobarometer study of 2005. the Eurobarometer study of 2005.

Other Languages Known – Other Languages Known – Two is the targetTwo is the target

A majority of Europeans are able to have A majority of Europeans are able to have a conversation in a conversation in oneone language other language other than their mother tongue. than their mother tongue.

56% of Europeans in at least one 56% of Europeans in at least one language, 28% in at least two languages language, 28% in at least two languages and 11% in at least 3 languages and 44% and 11% in at least 3 languages and 44% in no other languages. in no other languages.

Fewer Europeans remain without Fewer Europeans remain without competences in foreign languages than competences in foreign languages than four yeasr ago. From 47% in 2001 to four yeasr ago. From 47% in 2001 to 44% in 2005. 44% in 2005.

Language SkillsLanguage Skills

At the country level, 99% of Luxembourg At the country level, 99% of Luxembourg citizens, 97% of Slovaks and 95% of Latvians citizens, 97% of Slovaks and 95% of Latvians indicate that they speak at least one foreign indicate that they speak at least one foreign language. language.

At the other end of the ranking, Ireland and At the other end of the ranking, Ireland and the United Kingdom have only 34% and 38% the United Kingdom have only 34% and 38% of citizens knowing a language other than of citizens knowing a language other than their mother tongue. their mother tongue.

Also few Italians 41%, Portuguese (42%) and Also few Italians 41%, Portuguese (42%) and Hungarians (42%) speak another language Hungarians (42%) speak another language than their mother tongue.than their mother tongue.

Two languagesTwo languages

In 2002, the Heads of States set a long-In 2002, the Heads of States set a long-term objective, mother tongue + two. term objective, mother tongue + two.

The citizens of Luxembourg score best The citizens of Luxembourg score best again with 92% speaking two languages again with 92% speaking two languages apart from their mother tongue. Followed apart from their mother tongue. Followed by 75 % in the Netherlands and 71% in by 75 % in the Netherlands and 71% in Slovenia. Slovenia.

At the bottom of the table are the At the bottom of the table are the southern Europeans, the United Kingdom southern Europeans, the United Kingdom and Ireland. and Ireland.

Who is the multilingual Who is the multilingual EuropeanEuropean

In general: In general: YoungYoung Well-educatedWell-educated With a multilingual background (foreign With a multilingual background (foreign

parents, born abroad or belonging to a parents, born abroad or belonging to a linguistic minority)linguistic minority)

In a managerial position or a studentIn a managerial position or a student Motivated to learnMotivated to learn

Range of Languages Range of Languages KnownKnown

English remains the most widely-English remains the most widely-spoken foreign language throughout spoken foreign language throughout Europe. Europe. English 38%English 38% French 14%French 14% German 14%German 14% Spanish 6%Spanish 6% Russian 6%Russian 6%

Range of Languages Range of Languages KnownKnown

More respondents say that they More respondents say that they speak these languages than in 2001, speak these languages than in 2001, Russian was not covered. Russian was not covered.

With the enlargement of the With the enlargement of the European Union, the balance European Union, the balance between French and German is between French and German is changing.changing.

Russian has been introduced largely Russian has been introduced largely due to the Baltic States. due to the Baltic States.

Range of Languages Range of Languages KnownKnown

In 19 put of the 29 countries polled, In 19 put of the 29 countries polled, English is the most widely spoken English is the most widely spoken language, after the mother tongue. language, after the mother tongue.

Particularly in Sweden (89%), Malta Particularly in Sweden (89%), Malta (88%) and the Netherlands (87%). (88%) and the Netherlands (87%).

French is the most widely spoken French is the most widely spoken foreign language Luxembourg, the foreign language Luxembourg, the United Kingdom and Ireland. United Kingdom and Ireland.

Range of Languages Range of Languages KnownKnown

German is commonly spoken in German is commonly spoken in Slovakia (32%), the Czech Republic Slovakia (32%), the Czech Republic (28%) and Hungary (25%)(28%) and Hungary (25%)

While most Lithuanians (80%), While most Lithuanians (80%), Latvians (70%) and Estonians (66%) Latvians (70%) and Estonians (66%) speak Russian. speak Russian.

Maybe surprisingly a significant part Maybe surprisingly a significant part of Slovenians master Croatian (59%)of Slovenians master Croatian (59%)

The Level of Language The Level of Language SkillsSkills

Over half of the respondents rate their Over half of the respondents rate their language skills as very good or good. language skills as very good or good.

People evaluate their language skills in People evaluate their language skills in English to be the best. 69% claim they can English to be the best. 69% claim they can speak English well or very well.speak English well or very well.

59% say that their competence in German, 59% say that their competence in German, and 56% in Russian, is better than basic.and 56% in Russian, is better than basic.

People claim less frequently that their People claim less frequently that their language skills are very good in German, language skills are very good in German, French or Spanish.French or Spanish.

Frequency of useFrequency of use

47% indicate that they use foreign 47% indicate that they use foreign languages almost every day. languages almost every day.

53% do not use their language 53% do not use their language competence on a daily basis.competence on a daily basis.

31% of those who know English 31% of those who know English indicate that they use it almost every indicate that they use it almost every day. day.

22% said that they used Spanish or 22% said that they used Spanish or German daily. German daily.

Situations of useSituations of use

42% of Europeans use their first 42% of Europeans use their first foreign language on holiday abroad. foreign language on holiday abroad.

26% use it while watching tv, films 26% use it while watching tv, films or listening to the radio. or listening to the radio.

25% while communicating with 25% while communicating with friends and as many while having friends and as many while having conversations at work. conversations at work.

Ways of learningWays of learning

59% of those polled said that they have 59% of those polled said that they have learned languages at secondary school. learned languages at secondary school.

Other learning environments are also Other learning environments are also mentioned, for example 24% in primary mentioned, for example 24% in primary school and a fifth on holidays abroad. school and a fifth on holidays abroad.

Most learn languages at school, but Most learn languages at school, but 16% have learned languages on their 16% have learned languages on their own. own.

Learning languagesLearning languages

Language and education policy is a Language and education policy is a competence of each Member State. competence of each Member State. But the Commission encourages and But the Commission encourages and motivates people to learn languages. motivates people to learn languages.

18% of EU citizens have learned a 18% of EU citizens have learned a language or improve their languages language or improve their languages skills during the last two years and skills during the last two years and 21% intend to do so in the coming 21% intend to do so in the coming year. year.

Learning languagesLearning languages

Approximately 1 in 5 Europeans can Approximately 1 in 5 Europeans can be described as active language be described as active language learners.learners.

The most active language learners The most active language learners come from Sweden (32%), Latvia come from Sweden (32%), Latvia (28%) and Finland (28%)(28%) and Finland (28%)

……and the ”laziest” from Greece (6%) and the ”laziest” from Greece (6%) and Portugal (11%). and Portugal (11%).

The most useful The most useful languagelanguage

English is perceived by Europeans to English is perceived by Europeans to be by far the most useful language be by far the most useful language (68%)(68%)

The gap between the perceived The gap between the perceived usefulness of French (25%) and usefulness of French (25%) and German (22%) is narrowing.German (22%) is narrowing.

In 26 of the 29 countries covered In 26 of the 29 countries covered English is rated as the most useful English is rated as the most useful language. language.

Reasons for learning Reasons for learning languageslanguages

35% claim they learn languages for 35% claim they learn languages for travelling abroad. travelling abroad.

27% learn for personal satisfaction 27% learn for personal satisfaction and as many to be able to work in and as many to be able to work in another country. another country.

However, employment related However, employment related reasons are on the increase. reasons are on the increase. Especially in the new Member Especially in the new Member States. States.

Reasons for young Reasons for young peoplepeople

To improve their job opportunities is To improve their job opportunities is the most common reason, with 73% the most common reason, with 73% stating this. stating this.

Another reason is that the language Another reason is that the language is widely spoken around the world is widely spoken around the world (38%).(38%).

Around a third stresses the Around a third stresses the advantages of being multilingual advantages of being multilingual when going on holiday. when going on holiday.

ConclusionsConclusions

Europeans have fairly good language Europeans have fairly good language skills, 56% speak another languageskills, 56% speak another language

English dominatesEnglish dominates The language skills could be used The language skills could be used

more frequentlymore frequently Most learn languages at school.Most learn languages at school. Language skills are considered Language skills are considered

useful.useful.

ConclusionsConclusions

Work-related reasons are becoming Work-related reasons are becoming more important. more important.

Still more than a third learn Still more than a third learn languages to go on holiday abroad. languages to go on holiday abroad.

Language skills are important for Language skills are important for young people. young people.

Most young people learn languages Most young people learn languages to have better job opportunities. to have better job opportunities.

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention!attention!