English as a foreign language in the EU: preliminary analysis of the difference in proficiency levels among the member states

Abstract

Recent research about languages in the EU has reported that English is the most widely known language besides the mother tongue in the EU member states, and it is also the most widely spoken language at country level in sixteen member states (CoEC 2005; 2006). Also, it has been acknowledged that the number of speakers of English as a foreign language (FL) among the member states is very varied (i.e., The Netherlands and Sweden over 80 per cent, and Italy and Spain under 30 per cent). This article presents a preliminary analysis to explain why these differences occur. Accordingly, we have established a factor taxonomy and identified different factors within four main categories: individual, linguistic, educational and societal. Although we cannot offer in-depth analysis because of extension restrictions and the interdisciplinary nature of the factors, we maintain that societal factors contribute highly to language learning success. In particular, social, historical, economic and demographical characteristics of a country, and its type of television broadcasting, may exert potential influence. This article also warns about the problematic side effects that language inequality may cause for the EU's consolidation process.