And one has to wonder about how comparable the self-reported figures for degrees of proficiency are. Still, they're interesting. The dominance of English is also remarkable.
Is it?
Might as well add a mini-survey for European members (though Americans and others are welcome to answer as well if they like):
1) Which languages did you learn in school, and for how long?
English(8 years compulsory, 2 years elective), French (5 years elective, although everyone has to take a second language (apart from English) at least two years, I think), Spanish (2 years elective) and some Swedish/Danish (in between the Norwegian classes).
Edit2: I didn't realise we were doing native languages as well. We had Norwegian throughout all the years in school, and then we had Nynorsk (which is another written Norwegian) during the last 5 years or so of school. All compulsory.
2) Which languages would you say you speak with some degree of fluency?
English, Spanish, Norwegian
I can understand Swedish and Danish more or less perfectly, but that is less to do with school and more ... general culture, I suppose, as well as similarity to Norwegian.
My French is perfectly adequate for reading the language, and I can usually keep up a conversation, but I am not fluent.
3) Do you think languages get too much attention in the school system you went to, too little, or just about enough?
Just about the right amount, I feel. Norwegian is such a minor language, we need to learn others. And I think it is healthy to learn a third. But I also think it is good that not everyone has to learn the same amount all the time.
4) What do you think of the remarkable dominance of English that appears in the data?
Unsurprising, surely.
Edit: I hate smiley codes that are perfectly normal combinations of signs.
*MySmiley*
structured procrastinator
structured procrastinator
This message last edited by Camilla on 24/09/2010 at 02:14:14 PM
/Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 24/09/2010 01:37:42 PM
1332 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe
- 24/09/2010 02:10:57 PM
741 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe
- 24/09/2010 03:32:09 PM
688 Views
That is rather sad to say the least.
- 24/09/2010 04:15:32 PM
912 Views
Indeed
- 24/09/2010 06:23:52 PM
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Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe
- 24/09/2010 04:00:04 PM
806 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe
- 24/09/2010 05:47:09 PM
771 Views
Interesting.
- 24/09/2010 06:04:30 PM
716 Views
Re: Interesting.
- 24/09/2010 06:42:02 PM
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Re: Interesting.
- 24/09/2010 07:05:44 PM
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Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 24/09/2010 09:38:05 PM
869 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 25/09/2010 05:49:05 AM
858 Views
Self-study can be worth as much as formal classroom study, I suppose
- 25/09/2010 03:43:14 PM
822 Views
Certainly it can.
- 26/09/2010 12:35:56 PM
821 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 25/09/2010 04:54:40 PM
965 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 25/09/2010 07:38:29 PM
887 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 26/09/2010 12:07:19 AM
904 Views
They should have asked about second languages rather than foreign languages.
- 26/09/2010 11:34:27 AM
755 Views
Re: /Survey: Foreign language knowledge in Europe (and elsewhere)
- 27/09/2010 03:18:30 PM
799 Views