English pupils "worst in Europe" at languages

• Guest 664

  • Registered: 23 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 1,039
  7 January 2014     12:57257185
  #1       report
  Reports BBC News today.
  
  Bottom of a sample of 14 countries.
• Guest 698

  • Registered: 28 May 2010
  • Posts: 8,664
  7 January 2014     13:52257187
  #2       report
  Just reflects the average Brit's xenophobic mindset, Andrew. We expect Johnny Foreigner to speak English when he comes here but are miffed when we aren't understood in rural France when we speak slowly in English, wave our arms around and shout.
  I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
• Guest 653

  • Registered: 13 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 10,540
  7 January 2014     16:13257196
  #3       report
  It's not just that Peter, foreign languages should be part of the school curriculum and young people started learning one quite early.
  
  
  
  Roger
• Keith Sansum1

  • Location: london
  • Registered: 25 Aug 2010
  • Posts: 23,942
  7 January 2014     16:51257197
  #4       report
  peter we agree!!!!!!
  ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
• Guest 664

  • Registered: 23 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 1,039
  7 January 2014     16:53257199
  #5       report
  Agreed, Peter. Insular in all senses.
• howard mcsweeney1

  • Location: Dover
  • Registered: 12 Mar 2008
  • Posts: 62,352
  7 January 2014     17:39257213
  #6       report
  the problem is that english is the main business language especially as they have a version of it in the states.
  
  i had one year of french when i was at school, 30 minutes a week which is hardly sending a message to the pupils.
  
  do they start languages in primary school nowadays?