Aspects and prospects of EU multilingualism

Luca Tomasi

Multilingualism Policy Unit

EFNIL Conference

The role of language education in creating a multilingual Europe

London, 25 October 2011

Multilinguismo

The European Union: 23 official languages

Why multilingualism?

• Cohesion
• Social inclusion
• Intercultural dialogue
• European citizenship
• Mobility
• Employability
• Competitiveness

Amin Maalouf

“Every language is the end product of a unique historical experience, every language conveys a memory, a literary heritage, a specific ability, and represents the legitimate foundation of a cultural identity.”

Theodore Roosevelt

“We are a nation, not a hodge-podge of foreign nationalities. We are a people, and not a polyglot boarding house”

Julia Kristeva

“If we only become free subjects insofar as we are strangers to ourselves, then the social bond should not be an association of identities, but rather a federation of differences …

Europe as a federation of respected differences: this is my dream.”

Umberto Eco

“people who can communicate while everybody speaks their own language and understands the other without being fluent (and so understands) the cultural universe that is expressed when someone speaks the language of their ancestors and their tradition”

Structured cooperation

• OMC thematic group on early language learning
• OMC thematic group on Languages for Jobs

• Civil Society Platform
• Business Platform for Multilingualism

A new package of policy documents

• Report on the 2008 Council Resolution
• Inventory of language-related activities
• Policy Handbook on Early Language Learning
• Report of the Civil Society Platform
• Report of the Business Platform
• Report on ‘Languages for Jobs’

Early language acquisition

• More natural process
• Better intonation and pronunciation
• Openness
• Awareness of mother tongue
• Self-confidence
• Problem-solving skills

Early language learning: conditions

• Qualified staff
• Language skills
• Pedagogical skills
• Aware of cognitive development
• Special attention to children of migrant and minority background
• Acknowledge competences in native/heritage language
• Help learning language of the host country

Report of the Civil Society Platform

Recommendations on:

• Language policy and planning
• Linguistic diversity and social inclusion
• Language teaching including intercultural competences and research on language learning and testing
• Translation and terminology

Languages for jobs

• Modernise language teaching
• Realistic learning outcomes
• Motivation of learners
• Assessing competences
• Validation of informal skills
• Promotion of learning mobility

Languages for Jobs:�Recommendations

• Language learning part of a strategy offering every learner a chance to move abroad
• New methods needed to motivate learners to take up / keep up studying languages
• Content and language integrated learning, especially for VET

Business platform for multilingualism

To make employers aware of the benefits of a good language strategy

• Mapping of best practices
• ‘Languages mean business’ campaign for SMEs
• Setting up of the CELAN network: web platform to help companies in managing linguistic needs

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The language industry today

And now?

• Council conclusions on language competences to enhance mobility
• Commission communication 'Rethinking skills'
• Language Indicator - benchmark
• 'Erasmus for all' programme
• More official languages?

Erasmus for all

• Mobility
• Languages in general/higher education, VET
• For language and other teachers
• Youth
• Cooperation
• Partnerships
• Bilingual schools, CLIL

Erasmus for all

• Policy support
• Evidence-based
• Open Method of Coordination
• Policy reform

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• Examples:
• OMC Groups
• Stakeholder Platforms

More information:

Languages website

http://ec.europa.eu/languages

And the cost of multilingualism?

• All the translation and interpreting services of all the EU institutions cost each EU citizen around 2 euros per year
• The cost of multilingualism adds up to less than 1% of the whole EU budget
• Open dialogue and transparency�cost money … �but it’s worth it!

Almost 4500 translators

Almost 2 million pages/year

Most originals are drafted in English