The UK Trails Europe In Language Learning

Where in the European Union are students learning the most foreign languages? According to recent data published by Eurostat, 100 percent of students in Luxembourg are learning two or more foreign languages. In France, Czechia, Romania, Finland and Slovakia, practically all upper secondary students (99 percent) are also learning at least two foreign tongues.

English is the most studied foreign language across the EU, with 96 percent of students learning it, followed by French (23 percent) and Spanish (22 percent). Very few students in the UK are learning more than one language according to Eurostat. In fact, the share learning two or more is an embarrassing 5 percent. Neighbouring Ireland is marginally better off at 14 percent. However, it must be pointed out that students in Ireland have to learn Irish (the joint official language along with English) in addition to a foreign language.