Risk of English replacing Swedish as the mother tongue in Sweden – Nordelje Ditning

Response/Comment to Anna Karin Johansen Sandman and Submitter entitled “In IES bilingual schools, Swedish is as important as English” On NT 2/22:

Johansen Sandman, you are the Head of Education at the International English School. This is such a neat English/American title!

It is clear that English is internationally dominant in many areas today. Even in the European Union, despite Britain’s long-term exit from the Union through Brexit, English is used more and more in discussions.

But English is far from the largest language in Europe/EU today. German, French, Italian or Spanish are currently the main languages ​​within the EU.

There are many times It is sad to hear EU politicians/representatives from various member states (including Sweden) speaking English. They should use simultaneous interpretation instead, I think. (Note: Read my submission in DN Ensändare/Osikt on 21-22/11-2022 with the title: “Poor use of English is boring in the EU“).

With this background, I can defend English as one of the main languages ​​in IES. But English skills still need to be improved in many and varied ways.

I believe there is a risk that English will replace Swedish as the mother tongue in Sweden in the near future. Anyway, English is already becoming an official language in Sweden.

Our high school students You can read August Strindberg, Ulf Lundel and many other famous Swedish authors in English translation. That would be a disaster!

Then we got rid of our Swedish language and our identity. “A Swedish own goal!” Johansen Sandman, feel free to expand the views and add some EU languages ​​to IES. Only then will IES become truly international in my opinion.

These languages ​​can still be used in many international contexts.

Additionally, we always need stimuli not only from US/UK but also from Europe/EU. Personally, I have always enjoyed and benefited from German, French and Italian.

I have benefited greatly from these European/EU languages ​​both personally and in my work life.

CG Bernbring