On Monday 23 May 2022, EU Debate Club on the topic of “Is learning of foreign languages important to young people nowadays?” was held online.

Having reviewed the data on multilingualism in Europe, five students engaged in an active debate of language learning. One student noted that learning English helps with learning German and then students discussed various ways of practicing their English (such as talking with foreign students in dormitory hall, having ZOOM meeting with foreign students etc.), while also pointing out advantages of speaking English with others face-to-face. The debate covered two more interesting points. First, we may feel that our personality changes when we speak a different language. Most students agreed with this fact, stating that they feel more outgoing and direct when speaking English. Second, students remarked that despite the advanced translation applications, learning a foreign language also means embracing a foreign culture, therefore when learning a language, we should also be aware of cultural norms of the particular foreign country.