Languages against Xenophobia
February 19, 2008
42% of the Spanish population speaks English “badly or very badly” and only 23% can “converse correctly”, a new study reveals. Languages still seem to be the pending subject in Spain’s educational system.
The survey, carried out by Ipsos for Grupo Océana on 1000 people between 16 and 64 years of age, signals that 46 % can read texts in English “without difficulty”, 33% say they understand English when they hear it. Furthermore, the analysis shows that 88% of the questioned consider it “important or very important “to have knowledge in this language”.
Concerning its use, 29% never use English, whereas 37% practice it at least once a week. Mostly people aged between 35 and 44 years of age use English. Only 16% have received training in the English language or have received some type of title or certificate to prove their level of knowledge. Not practicing a language for two years leads to its near complete loss, and the Spanish people’s timidity in the use of this language does not help the situation.
According to Leonhar Orban, currently serving as the Commissioner for Multilingualism in the European Commission, the learning of languages is a “weapon against xenophobia”. He advocates that we should take advantage of linguistic diversities to facilitate labour opportunities.
He also explained that the languages we speak are part of our identity and culture, which demonstrates that when learning a new language we increase our understanding of other people and their way of life. In this way, he also defended the learning of new languages as “the most powerful weapon in front of “racism, xenophobia and intolerance” and to “avoid a war we must be able to understand each other”.
The acquisition of a language can only be beneficial for us, and not only on an intercultural level. It is a “door opener” for our career, for life opportunities, studies, work and even for when we go on holiday.
In the meeting on “FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING IN THE EU. BALANCE AND PROSPECTS.” of 2007, it was established that Spain and other EU countries lose thousands of contracts a year due to lack of foreign language knowledge.
It is therefore necessary to better train professors in foreign languages, create bilingual schools, and increase mobility programs to other countries to acquire a better understanding of foreign languages, and of course, their culture.
Jose Luis Zapatero and Mariano Rajoy have announced their priority concerning the use of English by the Spanish people and have promised that in 10 years time the Spanish youth will be bilingual. Zapatero has presented his 4-year plan where 15% of school time will be dedicated to foreign languages. Scholarships will be offered to professors to perfect their English and some 20.000 new native professors and auxiliaries will be contracted.
Furthermore, each year, 200.000 young people will have access to scholarships to study English outside Spain, thereby amplifying the existing program. This summer, 51.000 young people between 18 and 30 years of age will benefit from aids for courses, where the states budget has allocated 85 million Euros.
(C) Photo: jongos
Written by Sophie · Filed Under Culture & Society
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