Should Czech children start learning English sooner?
Czechia consistently lags behind in terms of English proficiency compared to the majority of its European neighbours. Education Minister Mikuláš Bek thinks the key to improving results is starting to teach English earlier, and is proposing that the compulsory age at which children start learning the world’s most widely-spoken foreign language be decreased.
According to the latest English Proficiency Index (EPI) from 2023, conducted by the international education organisation English First and based on the largest sample size of test results in the world, Czechia ranks lower than all other EU countries in terms of English proficiency, with the exception of only France, Italy, and Spain.
At the moment, it is only compulsory for primary school students in Czechia to start learning English from the third grade. Minister Bek told Czech Radio that it would be better for children to start learning English as soon as possible, as knowledge of foreign languages brings students huge advantages in their personal and professional lives.
“I looked very closely at when they start teaching foreign languages in other European countries and we start teaching them somewhat later relative to others. And the sooner you start learning a language, the greater the chances of success.”
He proposes that English be compulsory for children from the first grade, or ideally, even from the last year of nursery school, something that, at the moment, is only an option for children from wealthier families.
“It would also give us an opportunity to rid ourselves of certain social inequalities. Some parents pay for their children to go to private nurseries where they teach English, or they pay for private supplementary English courses or tutors. But not everyone can afford that.”
He also wants second foreign languages such as German, French or Spanish to start being taught earlier – from the sixth grade rather than the current eighth grade. However, he emphasises the importance of consistency when it comes to the range of languages offered in schools.
“Right now, it’s chaos – you can start learning German or French at primary school for two years, but then you go to secondary school and they might not even teach that language.”
The head of the Association of Primary School Teachers, Jaroslav Štercl, says he would welcome these changes. However, he thinks a mandatory second foreign language should be a topic for discussion, as not all pupils have the prerequisites for language studies.
“As an association, we don’t have a problem with children learning a second foreign language, but you have to take into account the fact that a certain percentage of the children will have huge difficulties with it. There should be an alternative for these children, so that not every child absolutely must learn a second foreign language, no matter what.”
Minister Bek also wants the level of English required of school-leavers to increase – from A2 to B1 for 9th-graders and to B2 for secondary school graduates. The Education Ministry plans to complete the proposal by the end of this year. However, an expert discussion will ensue before any changes are introduced.
