Did you know that 26 September 2015 is the 14th annual European Day of Languages?
The European Union covers 28 countries, 4,324,782 km2 and has over 500,000,000 people. Just to complicate things, they use 24 official languages and around 150 regional and minority languages! According to an EU survey in 2006, 56% of EU citizens spoke more than one language – not bad! The most common first language in the EU is Russian (150 million speakers), followed by German (c. 95 million), Turkish (80 million), and English and French (65 million each.) Worried about English speaking? Don’t be – it’s the most popular second language in Europe!
So why have a European Day of Languages?
- to alert the public to the importance of language learning and diversify the range of languages learned in order to increase plurilingualism and intercultural understanding;
- to promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe;
- to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school.
Benefits of being bilingual:
- More than 150 studies confirm that bilingualism improves memory, communication, independence, and awareness.
- Jobs, jobs, jobs! Employers are on the lookout for people with language skills; more and more business is taking place internationally, and you could be a hot commodity in the job market.
- According to the New York Times, speaking more than one language can even protect from the effects of Alzheimer’s disease – making your mental muscles work really helps!
It’s easier than ever before to learn a new language – from online and offline schools, to Youtube videos and free apps like Duolingo, you can learn something new for free!
Celebrate the European Day of Languages by telling us on Facebook or Twitter about what your favorite language is!