While many students in the UK struggle to learn one foreign language at school, they might be interested to learn that their Czech counterparts would have little sympathy for them. That’s because, under current guidelines in the Republic – as well as most of the EU – children there have been required to learn two foreign languages. The first foreign language they learn is usually English and instruction starts from the beginning of formal education. The second foreign language, which might be German, Russian, French or Spanish, is introduced as they enter the second stage of their education.
However, as part of sweeping changes to the curriculum in the country, the requirement to learn a second foreign language is being mooted, with a suggestion that it be dropped. This has sparked dissent from ambassadors of other EU countries, who cite the usefulness of knowing other European languages for getting jobs and that it flies in the face of the European Council’s objective of multilingualism.
Not sure if British schoolchildren should count themselves lucky to escape the extra homework, as they’re missing out on not having more words at their fingertips.
