{
  "id": 7505901,
  "title": "Most Europeans say a second language is useful. Not everyone can actually speak one",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/most-europeans-say-a-second-language-is-useful-not-everyone-can",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T08:15:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Euronews",
    "slug": "euronews",
    "url": "https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2026/09/15/most-europeans-say-a-second-language-is-useful-not-everyone-can-actually-speak-one"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent survey of European adults reveals a widespread belief in the value of speaking a second language, yet actual fluency varies significantly across nations. According to the YouGov poll in Britain, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, 87% to 97% of respondents say learning another language is useful. However, when asked about actual fluency, the figures paint a different picture. Denmark has the highest rate, with 74% of adults claiming fluency in a second language, followed by Germany at 54%, Spain at 47%, France at 37%, and Italy at 28%.\n\nBritain records the lowest fluency rate, with only 21% of adults claiming fluency. The dominance of English as the global language likely influences these results, as English is the most common second language among Europeans, spoken fluently by between 62% and 93% of multilingual individuals. In Britain, a quarter of those who speak another language can speak French, followed by Spanish.\n\nWhen asked why they don't speak a second language, the most common reason across most countries is a lack of perceived need. Spain stands out, with more than a third of non-speakers citing difficulty as the main reason. Over 70% of non-speakers in every country surveyed expressed a desire to learn a new language, with travel being the leading motivation.\n\nThe survey also inquired whether visitors to each country should speak the local language. Between 56% and 72% of respondents in Italy, Spain, and France believe tourists should do so, while in Britain, Germany, and Denmark, the figure ranges from 22% to 39%. Education-wise, between 82% and 90% of respondents in Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain believe foreign languages should be compulsory in schools up to age 16, while 66% of Britons share this view. Britons are also the least likely of the six nationalities to consider speaking another language very useful, at 46%, compared to between 57% and 70% in the other five countries.",
  "summary": "A YouGov survey of six European countries reveals wide gaps in language fluency, motivation to learn, and views on compulsory language education.",
  "key_points": [
    "87% to 97% of Europeans believe learning a second language is useful",
    "Denmark has highest fluency rate at 74%, Germany at 54%",
    "Lack of perceived need and difficulty cited as main reasons for non-speakers"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}