Multilingualism Commissioner Orban Backs Plans for Second Foreign Language
European Multilingualism Commissioner Leonard Orban, who payed on Monday an official visit to Slovenia, backed plans to introduce a second foreign language as an obligatory subject in the first three years of primary education, which are subject of the Slovenian government-sponsored education reform.
This is one of the main goals of the European Commission in promoting linguistic diversity in the EU, Orban told the press after meeting Education Minister Milan Zver during his visit to Slovenia. The pair focused on preparations for Slovenia's spell as EU president in the first half of next year and on multicultural dialogue, which is one of the priorities for then.
Orban also briefed Zver on the Commission's educational strategy, noting that foreign language learning was a priority. This means students should be taught at least two foreign languages apart from their mother tongue, so Orban supports Slovenia's plans to introduce another second language in primary schooling. "One of our main goals on the EU level is promoting linguistic diversity," Orban said and added that all 23 languages in the EU were treated equally. He believes Europe should never become a melting pot.
Linguistic equality is for Orban an issue of democracy. "Everyone has the right to understand and be understood." Orban explained that documents have to be translated in all EU languages because 40% of citizens in the bloc only spoke their own tongue. This is why the EU official believes the funds the EU spends on the large number of translators - about EUR 1.1bn a year - are justified.
The meeting with Orban was also attended by Norwegian Education and Research Minister Ojsten Djupedal, who announced with Minister Zver that they would organise a joint conference on multilingualism in Oslo next year. The ministers highlighted the significance of the conference being hosted by a non-EU member. Orban was also scheduled to meet Culture Minister Vasko Simoniti and European Affairs State Secretary Janez Lenarcic. In the afternoon he is to attend the inauguration of the Italian school in the coastal town of Piran, which will reopen after refurbishment.
The commissioner is also expected to meet National Assembly deputies and representatives of foreign cultural institutes in Slovenia and the Institute for the Slovenian Language at the Slovenian Academy of Arts and Sciences.
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