The year 2001 has been designated European Year of Languages 2001 by the European Commission and the Council of Europe. The project has a number of objectives, including the promotion of Europe's linguistic heritage and diversity, and the encouragement of language learning. Details of the full range of activities planned for the European Year of Languages are now available online. A number of bodies are promoting the European Year of Languages:
The national coordinating body for the European Year of Languages in Ireland is Léargas.
The European Year of Languages has certain key aims:
A number of events mark the European Year of Languages in each European country:
To borrow a phrase from the Modern Language Association of America, Knowing Other Languages Brings Opportunities (to find out more, read the recent MLA brochure on this subject). To find out more about language-learning strategies, reading the EYL brochure Comment apprendre les langues. Many opportunities for experimenting with language learning can now be found online, as you can see from the European Year of Languages website, some of which are listed below:
There are many reasons for learning a language:
Most people living in Ireland have English as a first language --- and so are in the fortunate position of speaking a major world language. But other languages are likely to be as significant globally in the future (for instance, Spanish and Chinese) and, in Europe, German (to mention only this language) will continue to be important for social, political and commercial reasons; thus, the Financial Times now publishes German-language edition, the Financial Times Deutschland. In recent years, English-speakers are increasingly sought for jobs in other countries --- but competence in the foreign language is also a requirement for those who wish to avail of these opportunities.
The Nuffield Foundation (in Britain) recently sponsored the Nuffield Languages Inquiry, an extensive programme of research and investigation into future language needs. It highlights the importance of language-learning for many reasons, including its direct contribution to economic competitiveness, intercultural tolerance and social cohesion.
As part of the European Year of Languages, the European Commission is organising a major study of languages in EU Member States and on people's attitudes to languages and language learning. There will also be a separate study on language teaching in European education systems, covering some future Member States of the EU as well as current ones. The results of both will be available via the European Year website
A wide range of opportunities for language learning are provided in U.C.C. Modern Irish, French, German, Italian and Spanish can be studied to degree level in the Faculties of Arts and Commerce; French and German can be studied with Law in the Faculty of Law; and Portuguese and Catalan are also offered in the Faculty of Arts to students of Spanish in Second and Third Arts.
The University's Languages for All programme allows all students to study languages in addition to the subjects that they may be taking for their degrees. Full details of the modules provided in each language are available in the Book of Modules:
Teaching in these modules is generally provided by the Language Centre (ground floor, block B, O'Rahilly Building; email: info@langcent.ucc.ie).
The European Year of Languages website is a rich source of information. A number of other websites provide useful information on languages and language learning: