Languages, opening doors to cultures

Learning a foreign language is a condition of cultural exchange. It is also a necessity for Europeans, who are required to move, work and communicate within an expanding European Union.

Accordingly, on the basis of the Council Resolution of March 1995 on improving the quality of language learning and following the publication of the Commission's White Paper "Teaching and learning: towards the learning society", the Union encourages the learning of at least two foreign languages in addition to the mother tongue, and develops new teaching methods paving the way for innovation, mobility and new technologies.

In 2003, the European Commission presented an Action Plan for the promotion of language learning and linguistic diversity (2004-2006). One of its main goals is to encourage Europeans to know at least two languages in addition to their maternal language. The Commission has proposed different measures in order to realise this plan such as the creation of an information portal by 2006 which would provide information for professionals and the general public on available training opportunities and the advantages of speaking several languages, etc.

Language learning
The education activities carried out under the Socrates programme are designed to encourage linguistic exchanges between young people and training of language teachers. The "Erasmus" exchange programme enables higher-education students to study in a foreign country and provides them with appropriate preparatory language courses. Socrates also targets adults, who are encouraged to engage in lifelong learning, which includes languages. It contains a "Lingua" element, devoted entirely to the promotion of language learning, contributing to improvement in the quality of language teaching, and funding the development of teaching methods.

The Youth programme also affords opportunities for language learning through exchanges and mobility measures organised for the benefit of young Europeans.
One of the objectives of the Leonardo da Vinci training programme is to improve occupational mobility and multilingual and multicultural communication in the working environment. Action aimed at boosting access to employment through the European Social Fund includes funding for language training.

New methods of learning
New methods of learning languages are being rapidly developed, with Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci contributing to this and to the dissemination of successful experiments in the language-learning field. This activity is backed up by a European label awarded every year, in each Member State, to innovative language-learning projects.

The European Commission also provides citizens with information and advice on ways of learning languages. Various Community programmes support the use of new information and communications in the teaching of languages.

The eLearning initiative is designed to help European education and training systems to adapt to the new economic, social and cultural environment created by the spread of digital technologies. One of its priorities focuses on language learning.

Behind the scenes, research into language-learning methods and technologies is conducted within the research framework programme, with particular emphasis on education and training, under the User-friendly information society programme.

Activities Architecture Visual arts Cinema and audiovisual media Dance Education and training in the arts Books Music Cultural heritage Theatre Events Events National Cultural sites	Europe in action National Cultural sites Financing Activities Languages, opening doors to cultures Learning a foreign language is a condition of cultural exchange. It is also a necessity for Europeans, who are required to move, work and communicate within an expanding European Union. Accordingly, on the basis of the Council Resolution of March 1995 on improving the quality of language learning and following the publication of the Commission's White Paper "Teaching and learning: towards the learning society", the Union encourages the learning of at least two foreign languages in addition to the mother tongue, and develops new teaching methods paving the way for innovation, mobility and new technologies. In 2003, the European Commission presented an Action Plan for the promotion of language learning and linguistic diversity (2004-2006). One of its main goals is to encourage Europeans to know at least two languages in addition to their maternal language. The Commission has proposed different measures in order to realise this plan such as the creation of an information portal by 2006 which would provide information for professionals and the general public on available training opportunities and the advantages of speaking several languages, etc. Language learning The education activities carried out under the Socrates programme are designed to encourage linguistic exchanges between young people and training of language teachers. The "Erasmus" exchange programme enables higher-education students to study in a foreign country and provides them with appropriate preparatory language courses. Socrates also targets adults, who are encouraged to engage in lifelong learning, which includes languages. It contains a "Lingua" element, devoted entirely to the promotion of language learning, contributing to improvement in the quality of language teaching, and funding the development of teaching methods. The Youth programme also affords opportunities for language learning through exchanges and mobility measures organised for the benefit of young Europeans. One of the objectives of the Leonardo da Vinci training programme is to improve occupational mobility and multilingual and multicultural communication in the working environment. Action aimed at boosting access to employment through the European Social Fund includes funding for language training. New methods of learning New methods of learning languages are being rapidly developed, with Socrates and Leonardo da Vinci contributing to this and to the dissemination of successful experiments in the language-learning field. This activity is backed up by a European label awarded every year, in each Member State, to innovative language-learning projects. The European Commission also provides citizens with information and advice on ways of learning languages. Various Community programmes support the use of new information and communications in the teaching of languages. The eLearning initiative is designed to help European education and training systems to adapt to the new economic, social and cultural environment created by the spread of digital technologies. One of its priorities focuses on language learning. Behind the scenes, research into language-learning methods and technologies is conducted within the research framework programme, with particular emphasis on education and training, under the User-friendly information society programme.	Europe in action Cultural cooperation Cultural industries Access to culture The culture professionals Cultural facilities Linguistic diversity Languages, opening doors to cultures Preserving, enhancing and disseminating languages International cooperation Regulatory aspects International relations Intercultural Dialogue Cultural Diversity Financing European Commission: Information Society and Media Education and Culture Agriculture Enlargement Employment and Social Affairs Environment Fisheries Regional Policy Research European Development Fund European Investment Bank
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Last update: 03-05-2006