Today, the one who knows several European languages can win.
As TsMK 'Parta' writes, this is mainly caused by three reasons. Firstly, knowledge of a foreign language is necessary to better understand representatives of another European culture. This helps prevent manifestations of intolerance, xenophobia, and racism in society.
Secondly, this is required by integration economic processes. The role of intercultural communication skills in global marketing and sales strategies is increasing. European companies suffer losses in business because they cannot speak the languages of their clients. A European Commission study established a direct link between language knowledge and export sales and proved the need for a language strategy as an essential element of success for every European business. As a result of poor foreign language skills, 11% of European small and medium enterprises lose their business annually.
Thirdly, knowledge of another language guarantees more complete access to the legislative procedures of the European Union. EU legislation applies to all its citizens. Therefore, the huge bureaucratic apparatus must communicate with them in their native language.
As a result, the European Union has developed a whole program for teaching the population foreign languages. It includes studying 1-2 additional languages starting from childhood, and encouraging adults to attend language courses, and children to study in summer language camps funded by state programs. Studying not only European but also other languages that are gaining increasing popularity in the world, such as Arabic and Chinese, is a common norm in European schools and colleges. This is especially noticeable in the examples of IB programs.
Data from the Eurobarometer analysis shows that on average half of EU citizens can communicate in at least one language besides their native language. Most proficient in a second European language are Luxembourgers (99%), Latvians and Maltese (93%), and Lithuanians (90%). At the other pole are Hungarians, residents of the UK, Spain, Italy, and Portugal.
Ignorance of foreign languages greatly hinders the UK's progress on the European stage. According to media reports, the European Commission recently rejected a request by British Prime Minister David Cameron regarding the requirement of knowledge of a second foreign language when taking exams for senior staff of various EU committees. A disproportionately small number of Her Majesty's subjects work in the bureaucratic structures of the European Union. The number of UK residents is 12% of the total population of Europe. At the same time, only 5% of Britons work in the European Commission and the European Parliament. This is partly due to examination tests that include written tests and interviews in a second language – English, French, or German.
Analysts, however, attribute this to the fact that an increasing number of English schoolchildren refuse to study other languages, which in turn leads to a reduction in university departments of foreign languages. The notion that everyone knows or should know English does not hold in Europe. Here, the one who knows several European languages can get ahead.
_