European Day of Languages

26 September 2010

The European Year of Languages involves millions of people across 45 countries in activities to celebrate linguistic diversity and the benefits of being able to speak another language.

Our planet has over 6 billion people who speak between

6000 and 7000 different languages

Not everyone speaks English – it’s a multicultural and a

multilingual world!

A little language can make a lot of difference

David Beckham:“If I can conquer Spanish, it willhave been a greatachievement!”

By the age of 21, you will have spoken about

50 million words!!!

German is the most widely spoken

first language in Europe

People who can speak another language can earn up to

£5000 more than colleagues who do not!

At the age of 18 months you

can speak about fifty words.

At the age of five you can speak several

thousand!

If you have learnt a second language, it is easier to learn a third,

fourth…….. fifth…!

In London, more than 300

languages are spoken at home.

70, 000 volunteers are needed for the London 2012 Olympics –

Especially people who can speak other languages!

• Languages improve your understanding of how other people live and think

Learning a new language can increase your self-confidence and help you speak

more clearly.