If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
Nelson Mandela
26 th September is proclaimed The European Day of Languages. Its aim is to encourage lifelong language learning in and out of school across Europe, promote the rich linguistic and cultural diversity of Europe.
There are 23 “official” languages in EU (European Union) and ~200 including minority, regional languages, dialects.
The benefits of speaking a language other than your native tongue are easy to see. Whether you’re working abroad in Germany, studying in France or on holiday in Cyprus, it’s a huge advantage to be able to communicate directly with the local people. Languages broaden the mind, open up new horizons and will increase your employability.
The most widely spoken mother tongue in the EU is German.
44% of Europeans admit they can’t speak any language other than their mother tongue. The most multilingual EU country is Luxembourg where 99% of citizens master at least one foreign language, followed by 97% of Slovaks and 95% of Latvians. The least multilingual EU countries are Ireland (34%) and the UK (38%)…
