03 Tháng 9, 2008 - Published 04:19 GMT

Thanh niên Anh ngại học ngoại ngữ

Fact or fiction? Most British people are lazy when it comes to learning a foreign language.

VOX POPS:
- Fact.
- Why do you say that?
- 'Cos we don't need to. 'Cos everybody else speaks English.
- Fact. Foreigners make it too easy for you because they speak English when you're abroad.

Those views on the streets of London are backed up by figures out this week. The British Government found that 58 percent of 11-18 year olds in the UK do NOT speak a second language. However two thirds of teenagers in Britain want to work abroad when they're older - the countries of choice being Italy, Spain, France or China. The British Government admits there is a problem - that not enough young people continue learning a second language when they leave school. Teresa Tinley from the country's national centre of languages says it has big implications for the economy:

TINLEY:
We are in a competitive global market and we need to be able to speak to our customers and our potential customers. Our trade is very much geared towards English-speaking countries. Our research shows that our exports are suffering.

The research is seen as further evidence that most young people assume they can get by in a foreign country by speaking English - something the authorities in London want to change.

Tom Burridge, BBC

fiction
ở đây có nghĩa là điều không có thật

backed up
được chứng thực (bởi điều gì đó)

out
ở đây có nghĩa là được công khai, được công bố

admits
thừa nhận

big implications
hậu quả nghiêm trọng

potential customers
khách hàng tiềm năng

geared towards
nhằm mục tiêu

further evidence
các bằng chứng khác

assume
tin dù không có kiểm chứng

get by
tồn tại, sống được