This contribution investigates the question of, what the consequences of the process of European integration and globalization of the world market have been for the Italian educational system, particularly for learning foreign languages. First, the foreign language skills of the Italians will be analysed. According to a national data collection they do not satisfy international standards. The defaults can be explained by the deficiency of educational policy in the past. Next to be discussed will be the radical restructuring reform of the school and university system: this reform reflects the meaning of multilingualism as the linguistic and cultural plurality proclaimed by the European Community. Attention is devoted to language teaching at school, based now on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and to the practical value of humanities, especially the modern languages, which have been adapted to this modified frame of social reference. The essay constantly keeps an eye on the position of the German language and of German studies in general. Finally the improvement of German as a scientific language, as a desideratum of a cultural and educational German policy in the long term, and the meaning of language multiplicity in the age of lifelong learning will be underlined.
Communicative unity in linguistic variety. The foreign language question in Italy: Conditions and comments from its language political-practical perspective
Moraldo S. M.
2007
Abstract
This contribution investigates the question of, what the consequences of the process of European integration and globalization of the world market have been for the Italian educational system, particularly for learning foreign languages. First, the foreign language skills of the Italians will be analysed. According to a national data collection they do not satisfy international standards. The defaults can be explained by the deficiency of educational policy in the past. Next to be discussed will be the radical restructuring reform of the school and university system: this reform reflects the meaning of multilingualism as the linguistic and cultural plurality proclaimed by the European Community. Attention is devoted to language teaching at school, based now on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), and to the practical value of humanities, especially the modern languages, which have been adapted to this modified frame of social reference. The essay constantly keeps an eye on the position of the German language and of German studies in general. Finally the improvement of German as a scientific language, as a desideratum of a cultural and educational German policy in the long term, and the meaning of language multiplicity in the age of lifelong learning will be underlined.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.