Saturday, March 21, 2009



English Becomes Lingua Franca at Dutch Universities, By Marlies Hagers
As education becomes an export product, Dutch universities are increasingly switching to English as the language of instruction -- some say that higher education is suffering as a result.
Students at the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. Most of the college's masters programs are only offered in English.
Hundreds of students have convened on the Academieplein square in Groningen. The band is ready to play when rector magnificus Frans Zwarts lifts a glass of champagne on the steps of the university building: "Let's toast," he says in English, raising his voice. "To a very successful next academic year."

... here the interesting question ...
... what is the minimum number of languages ...
... required for the functioning of the european community ...
... swedes are dual-language since 1906 more or less ...
... starting from kindergarden ...
... wise choice, otherwise you would have had two sweden ...
... like with spanish in the US ...

... may end up the need of three languages ...
... each can preserve its national one ...
... but conduct all business and school in english and french ...
... since kindergarden ...
... to be "native speakers" ...


# posted by intcoex : 6:48 PM




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