Modern language

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A modern language is any human language that is used by societies in the world today.

The term is used in a language education context (in high schools, secondary schools, colleges and universities) to distinguish between languages such as German or French, which are still spoken by millions of people and are often learned for their usefulness as tools of communication, and classical languages such as Latin, Attic Greek or Classical Chinese, which are studied for their cultural or linguistic value, rather than for any practical purpose.

1 The teaching of modern languages

[edit] The teaching of modern languages

Modern languages are taught extensively around the world:

[edit] United Kingdom

All children learn English at school.

In Wales, all children at state schools learn Welsh until age 14; they will be taught in the medium of Welsh or learn Welsh as a second language depending on where they live.[1]

In addition Modern Foreign Languages (often abbreviated to MFL) is a compulsory component in the state education system. At least one language (often French or German, occasionally Spanish or Italian) is studied until the end of Key Stage 3. Particular schools may require younger students to study other additional languages, and they may be given the option to continue these. Schools are required to teach a program of languages according to local and national guidelines. From 2010, all primary-school pupils in Key Stage 2 (aged 7 - 11) will be entitled to some teaching of a modern foreign language.

English as a foreign language is taught to immigrant adults and young people as necessary.

[edit] In the United States

All children learn English at school. In addition, students are highly recommended to take at least one language course in either high school, or college. After English, the most studied modern languages at institutes of higher education in 2002 were in order of popularity:1 Spanish, French, German, Italian, American Sign Language, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian.

[edit] European Union(% of schoolchildren)

English (89%) French (32%) German (18%) Spanish (8%)

[edit] Asia

English is the most studied foreign language in People's Republic of China, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan(Republic of China).

[edit] Egypt

All children learn Arabic at school. In addition English is mandatory to learn starting from forth grade ( 9 Years old). Another language is mandatory at last two years of high school (17-18 years old) mostly between French or German. As Egypt's economy mainly depend over Tourism most of modern languages and taught and spoken.