Sure! Here’s the translation into American English:
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In 2023, 6.4% of primary school students in the European Union (EU) were learning two or more foreign languages, representing an increase of 1.8 percentage points compared to the 4.6% recorded in 2013. Luxembourg stood out notably, with 78.9% of its students participating in multilingual learning, a figure that far surpasses that of other EU countries. Latvia, Greece, and Estonia follow Luxembourg with percentages of 37.0%, 35.5%, and 34.9%, respectively.
Looking at the evolution from 2013 to 2023, it is evident that 15 EU nations experienced increases in foreign language teaching, although these were modest in nature. Latvia leads this advancement with an increase of 22.1 percentage points, followed by Finland with an increase of 15.2 pp, Greece with 9.6 pp, and Spain with 8.3 pp. However, eight countries reported declines, with Poland (-6.5 pp) and Luxembourg (-4.9 pp) being the most affected. Croatia and Bulgaria maintained a steady proportion of students learning multiple languages.
In the context of lower secondary education, the picture is also noteworthy. In 2023, 59.5% of students at this level were learning multiple languages, a slight increase from 58.4% in 2013. Finland leads in this sector with an impressive 97.8% of its students engaged in multilingual learning; other countries such as Greece, Italy, Malta, Estonia, Romania, and Portugal also report high percentages ranging from 96.6% to 93.2%. In contrast, Ireland, Hungary, and Austria have the lowest levels, with only 5.4%, 6.1%, and 7.6%, respectively.
The increases observed in language teaching at the secondary level have been particularly pronounced in 11 countries, with Czechia (+24.8 pp), France (+22.0 pp), and Belgium (+18.2 pp) at the forefront. However, 16 nations have experienced declines, with Poland being the most affected by a dramatic drop of 42.8 pp. Slovenia and Slovakia also show significant decreases.
These events coincide with the European Day of Languages, which this year emphasizes that “languages open hearts and minds.” The growing importance of linguistic competence in Europe could have lasting implications for the educational and professional futures of youth in the region.
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Source: MiMub in Spanish
