Language Policies and Language Certificates in Spain—What's the Real Cost?

Abstract

The use of English as the lingua franca in the European Union has elevated the symbolic capital of the language. The symbolic capital has, in turn, heightened the demand for English language learning in the European Union, across all levels of education. These circumstances, in correlation with the idiosyncrasies of the role of Spain within the perceived Western hegemony, have created a particularly unique situation. The recent changes made to educational law in 2013 aggressively promote foreign language learning at all educational levels. Language policies affect not only the official national language, Spanish, but also coofficial regional languages. Also, an increased need to certify language competence has arisen. National institutions in Spain cannot qualify language competence across European borders. However, there are supranational organizations that can. These language exams have thus filled this niche. These certificates are expensive; they expire, and double qualifications already set in the national curricula. This situation creates a paradox in countries like Spain where national curricula are followed to teach but certification of language levels from supranational organizations are used to qualify in academic fields and labor markets. Consequences of Spanish language policies are still unfolding and require thoughtful planning to anticipate the difficulties and to sketch diverse cultures out.