英国青少年外语能力在欧洲垫底

最近一项研究显示，英国青少年的外语能力在14个欧洲国家中排名最后，被指陷入 “单一语言主义的恶性循环”。此次研究对14个欧洲国家青少年的第一外语阅读、写作和听力能力进行了测试。结果显示，法语为第一外语的英国青少年中只有11%能够用法语写作，在欧洲各国中排名最后；而在法语阅读能力排名靠前的青少年中，英国只占9.2%，依然排在最后。此次测试中，外语阅读、听力和写作能力俱佳的学生来自于瑞典、马耳他以及荷兰。英语作为第一外语的法国学生表现也不佳，位列倒数第二。英国社会科学院副院长表示，语言不但在教育健康发展和科研中起到关键的作用，对英国的竞争力、个人以及整个社会也很重要。英国社科院发布的一份报告称，目前英国只专注于法语、西班牙语和德语等三门外语的学习已不足以满足其全球经济往来的需求，普通话、阿拉伯语及俄语等语言也要加入进来，土耳其语、波斯语和波兰语等也不能忽视。去年，英国政府首次宣布强制政策，要求所有小学从儿童7岁时开设一门外语课，这一政策将从明年起开始实施。目前，英国有十分之一的小学没有开设外语课。

British teenagers are trapped in a "vicious circle of monolingualism", a report warned recently as figures showed English youngsters are among the worst in Europe at foreign languages.

Teenagers in 14 different European countries were tested on their ability to speak the first foreign language taught in schools, which for England was French.

In reading, writing and listening tests, English pupils were ranked bottom.

The study suggests youngsters are lagging far behind their European peers, with many unable to understand more than basic words or phrases.

Just 11 percent of English pupils studying French were considered "independent users" in writing – the lowest in Europe for a first foreign language. In comparison, across all countries, two-fifths of students were at this level.

Only 9.2 percent were ranked in the top category for French reading – again, the lowest in Europe for a first foreign language.

The highest performers overall, based on reading, listening and writing skills, were Sweden, Malta and the Netherlands, the research found.

But France, where students' English skills were tested, also performed badly, perfoming second-worst in all three disciplines.

The study, conducted as part of the European Survey on Language Competences (ESLC) was released on the same day a new report from the British Academy found that the UK's poor foreign language skills were hurting the economy.

The British Academy report said a "vicious circle of monolingualism" was taking place, as the dearth of necessary skills forced British employers to "sidestep language issues", removing incentives for new language students.

"It is clear that the UK still has a long way to go in order to catch up with our European neighbors and international competitors," said Professor Nigel Vincent, Vice-President of the British Academy. "Languages are vital for the health and wellbeing of the education and research base, for UK competitiveness, and for individuals and society at large."

It also found that the current focus on French, Spanish and German was too narrow to meet modern global business needs.

"Indications of future demand show that a growing number of languages will be needed as the UK expands its global connections and responds to new economic realities," it says. "These include not only world languages such as Mandarin, Arabic and Russian – but also Turkish, Farsi and Polish."

Last year the Government announced that for the first time all primary school children will have to learn a foreign language from age seven. Currently about one in ten state primary schools offers no language lessons at all and a further 20 percent only offer it to some year groups, according to the most recent official figures.

The move to make languages a requirement from age seven will take effect next year.