Languages and sections

Languages

The learning of mother tongue (L1) is the fundamental principle of the European School pedagogy, as it is the multilingual teaching. The acquisition of the first foreign language (L2) begins in the first year of the primary cycle. Pupils are allowed to choose between French, English, German language classes. This is an important choice, as the chosen language will be the one in which the pupils will study humanities and the Religion or Moral/Ethics classes from the third secondary (S3).

A third foreign language (L3) is compulsory from the first year of the secondary cycle. Pupils can choose any of the official languages of the European Union other than their L1 or L2, provided that 7 pupils choose the same language.

From the fourth year of the secondary cycle, pupils can choose (optionally) a fourth language (L4).

For further information on the language learning in the European Schools, please see the section “Language teaching” at https://www.eursc.eu/en/European-Schools/studies/studies-organisation

Language sections

Slovak pupils – SWALS * (Students Without A Language Section) are enrolled either into the German, English or French section. They receive Slovak language teachings several times per week.

*see also Enrolment policy in Brussels European Schools