Brussels, 16/04/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Friday, the European Commission adopted a final communication, which presented the first European survey on the first and second foreign language skills of pupils in the EU member states. This communication follows the 2000 Lisbon European Council which underlined the importance of improving Europeans' language skills. Two years later the Barcelona Council followed up by calling for concrete actions “to improve the mastery of basic skills, in particular by teaching at least two foreign languages from a very early age” and for "the establishment of a linguistic competence indicator.” On this point, Commissioner for Education & Training Ján Figel explained in a press release that: "The purpose of this language indicator is not to rank individual countries, but to identify efficient practices in language learning in order to enhance the exchange of good experiences between the member states". Based on several years of extensive cooperation between the Commission services and member states, the 13 April communication presents the European Survey on Language Competence, which in most countries will test pupils at the end of obligatory schooling. In the first round of testing, planned to be carried out in 2009, the tests will measure three skills (reading, listening and writing) in the first and second most widely taught European languages of the EU: English, French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Data from the European survey will provide information on foreign language competence among young people (14-16 years old) in the Union, on where good practice and performance can be found, and in due time, on progress made in improvement of foreign language learning. This strategic information will help policy makers, teachers and learners in all member states to improve the teaching and learning of foreign languages.
The Council is expected to approve the communication on 25 May 2007, which will enable the Commission to launch the investigation in all member states at the beginning of 2009. Further information: http: //ec.europa.eu/education/policies/lang/languages_en.html (ol)