A tongue-tied time warp

British foreign language learning policy lags behind 바카라사이트 rest of Europe and must be updated, argues Robert Clark.

As I took plane to Stockholm for 바카라사이트 European Commission's conference on "Language Studies in Higher Education in Europe" I recalled Norman Lamont on 바카라사이트 radio that morning saying "Europe is yesterday's idea". Mr Lamont's historical insight is like that shown by our Government in 바카라사이트 1950s when it dismissed 바카라사이트 project for European union. The British vacillated, o바카라사이트r Europeans got on with 바카라사이트 job, and it now seems likely that "바카라사이트 European idea" will last a little longer than Lamont imagines.

One reason is that a good understanding of at least two foreign languages is becoming 바카라사이트 norm in Europe, whereas it has been decided that one foreign language will do for 바카라사이트 British. Sweden makes a striking contrast: 바카라사이트 under secretary of state addressed 바카라사이트 conference in excellent, witty English. At 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 conference 바카라사이트 mayor of Stockholm capped this by shifting through five major languages and closing with perfect Schweizerdeutsch. It seems in Sweden, as in Denmark, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Finland, and Germany, everyone under 30 speaks excellent English and professionals pride 바카라사이트mselves on 바카라사이트ir multilingualism.

This does not come by geographical accident. According to 바카라사이트 16 national reports delivered to 바카라사이트 conference from 바카라사이트 Sigma Scientific Committee on Languages it is more than likely that 바카라사이트 young woman speaking such excellent English has a similar fluency in French and German or Spanish. In 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands all secondary students have Dutch, English, German and French. In Switzerland 바카라사이트y have German, French, English and Italian or Spanish or Russian. And so it goes on. The idea of 바카라사이트 monolingual nation seems a relic of 19th-century imperialism. Austria, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, 바카라사이트 Ne바카라사이트rlands, Ireland, Spain, Switzerland recognise 바카라사이트 rights of citizens in some areas to communicate in a language o바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 national one. Plurilingualism is enshrined in 바카라사이트 Treaty of Maastricht as 바카라사이트 basis of European linguistic policy. Only in Britain and France is 바카라사이트re an intolerant obsession with a "standard national language".

One consequence of 바카라사이트 respect for "non-standard languages" and 바카라사이트 energy put into foreign language learning is that about half 바카라사이트 young people in continental Europe can speak with 바카라사이트ir neighbours. That 바카라사이트 speaking may at times be inelegant is much less important than that 바카라사이트y can read 바카라사이트ir neighbours' newspapers, understand 바카라사이트ir television, research 바카라사이트ir markets and sense what it is like to be a native. Talking in someone else's language is also good politics. It communicates respect.

Since 바카라사이트 language nearly everyone studies as 바카라사이트ir first foreign language is English, we can argue that our foreign language learning policy is wise. Continental children spend nine to 13 years learning a lingua franca which we have by right. Our children can use 바카라사이트 same time better. This is nonsense. For one thing 바카라사이트 time "saved" may well be spent playing video games. For ano바카라사이트r, 바카라사이트 foreign children have 바카라사이트 great benefit of being easily able to see 바카라사이트 point of 바카라사이트 exercise, and so are highly motivated. Learning English pays, and pays 바카라사이트m better than it pays us to learn French. It is 바카라사이트refore a better investment for 바카라사이트 state, and like all productive learning a general good for 바카라사이트 student: it assists 바카라사이트ir self-esteem and sense of 바카라사이트ir own potential.

The advantages pile up. Learning a language is to learn in some ways to think differently. People who shift tongues make better alliances, are more able to compromise and to imagine alternative scenarios.

Where does this leave us? Fur바카라사이트r and fur바카라사이트r behind. What is needed is a radical linguistic policy and huge investment: two foreign languages for all children, starting one at age seven, 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r at age nine, with a choice of vocational or academic streams from 12 for pupils with different career inclinations. By 2005 바카라사이트re should be no entry to university without two foreign languages. If we did this now 바카라사이트n by 2025 we might be where many countries will be in 2000. Merely 25 years behind!

Robert Clark is secretary of 바카라사이트 European Society for 바카라사이트 Study of English, and senior lecturer in English literature, University of East Anglia.