Multilingual Societies and the Challenges of Language Teaching
Multilingual Societies and the Challenges of Language Teaching

Summary/Abstract: To most people belonging to important or, “superior” cultures - whose language is regarded as an international language of communication - it seems remarkable that someone can use more than one language in everyday life. These people (the English and the Americans, the Spaniards, the French, the Germans, the Portuguese, in general the former colonial powers) usually expect the others to learn their language; therefore they are not very keen on learning foreign languages. However, the inhabitants of Timișoara and the Banat County, due to its ethnic structure, do not find anything surprising in using three, or four languages (Romanian, Serbian, Hungarian, German, Italian) in the course of the same day, and occasionally use one, or two international languages (English, French). It leads us to the conclusion that we, the inhabitants of the Banat County, were Europeans before we officially were, by joining the European Union. It is our strong belief that each Romanian citizen should speak/understand at least two foreign languages to be a true European citizen. Since the European labour market has been opened for the Romanians, the chances to get a good job and integrate in other countries and cultures are very poor, unless those wanting to do so, speak the language of that country. Therefore, it is our role to prepare our students not only for Romania, but also for the international environment. In this respect, we must find the best teaching methods and also motivate our students by constantly telling them that we are no longer isolated behind the Iron Curtain, but we are part of a global society.

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