Modern language

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In educational institutions and school administrations, modern languages are those foreign languages or school subjects that deal with the teaching of the written languages ​​currently in use, mainly of European countries, and their regional studies. The aim of the school education is the command of these languages ​​in word and writing as well as a certain intercultural competence, which should facilitate a stay in the respective country. These subjects are taught at all general schools and vocational schools, and recently also in kindergartens. Classes in modern foreign languages ​​are often held in the respective language .

German classes are not considered modern languages in German-speaking countries .

The modern foreign language taught most frequently in German schools is English , followed by French , Spanish , Italian and Russian . Japanese and Chinese are also being offered more and more often, but so far only at high schools.

The priorities in the choice of languages ​​are also subject to regional conditions, especially in border areas. There are schools in Baden, the Palatinate and Saarland where French is taught earlier than English. In the new federal states , Russian lessons continue to play a very important role. In the old federal states it was virtually non-existent in the 1990s and is now gradually being expanded.

Due to the increasing globalization of the economy and the increasing importance of online communication across the globe in business life, teaching in modern languages ​​is becoming increasingly important. In the meantime, skills in these languages ​​are taught in kindergartens and a large number of primary schools. Another development is the growing range of classes in non-European, especially Asian, languages.

The term modern languages developed from the demarcation to the ancient or classical languages ancient Greek and Latin . For example, the formulation is common that “with the beginning of the Renaissance , scientific treatises were available in modern languages ​​for the first time”. Mostly it refers to an outdated form of Italian that is no longer in use today.