Table of Contents
- 1 Do British students learn other languages?
- 2 Do British people learn a second language?
- 3 What is the most learned language in the UK?
- 4 Is English easy to learn for foreigners?
- 5 What are the top 5 languages spoken in England?
- 6 When should students start studying a second foreign language?
- 7 Does Britain need more linguists?
- 8 How well can you speak a second language?
Do British students learn other languages?
Language-learning uptake has been declining among UK students for decades, with French and German falling the most in the period 2013-2019. In 2020 it was reported that 30\% of secondary schools in Scotland were failing to offer even one additional language, even though they are required by government to offer two.
Do British people learn a second language?
Most British kids learn at least one modern foreign language in school. It’s usually French, German or Spanish. And schools in Wales teach Welsh, of course. However, we don’t, in the usual course of life, tend to get much chance to practice them.
How many Britons can speak a second language?
38\% of UK citizens report that they can speak (well enough to have a conversation) at least one language other than their mother tongue, 18\% at least two languages and 6\% at least three languages. 62\% of UK citizens cannot speak any second language.
What is the most learned language in the UK?
While French remains the most-studied language among secondary school students in the UK, its popularity is falling dramatically. Spanish is risking along with non-European languages like Chinese and Arabic.
Is English easy to learn for foreigners?
As a native English speaker, English is arguably the hardest language for a non-native speaker to learn. Just as a native English speaker would struggle with languages like Mandarin Chinese, native Mandarin speakers struggle with learning English.
What second language is taught a UK schools?
Most schools teach one or more of French, German and Spanish, but the Government does not promote the teaching of particular languages. In 2015, concerns were raised about the withdrawal of GCSE and A level qualifications in lesser-taught languages such as Arabic, Japanese and Polish.
What are the top 5 languages spoken in England?
Top twenty languages spoken in England and Wales
- English (English or Welsh if in Wales). 92.3\%
- Polish, 1.0\%
- Panjabi, 0.5\%
- Urdu, 0.5\%
- Bengali (with Sylheti and Chatgaya), 0.4\%
- Gujarati, 0.4\%
- Arabic, 0.3\%
- French, 0.3\%
When should students start studying a second foreign language?
Across Europe, students typically begin studying their first foreign language as a required school subject between the ages of 6 and 9. Furthermore, studying a second foreign language for at least one year is compulsory in more than 20 European countries.
Do we need to learn other languages if we speak English?
British people are declaring there is no need to learn all these other languages because everyone speaks English. This might be a little harsh on the Brits. Necessity breeds relevance – and as English is spoken by many people, the relevance in learning another language naturally diminishes.
Does Britain need more linguists?
The more the world learns English the less vital it will seem to British people to learn other languages. The fact that Britain is about to extricate itself from the certain trading conditions of the EU into the global melee of bilateral trade deals may boost the need for more linguists.
How well can you speak a second language?
Of those who know a second language, 43\% said they can speak that language “very well.” Within this subset of multilinguals who are well-versed in a non-English language, 89\% acquired these skills in the childhood home, compared with 7\% citing school as their main setting for language acquisition.