Informal Foreign Language Learning in Slovenia – An Aerial View

Abstract

The paper presents a basic overview of informal foreign language learning in Slovenia, as there are few sources of such information published so far even though it would contribute to decision making in the area of language education and language policy. The overview deals with three age groups separately: pre-school children, children in primary and secondary education, and adults. In these groups, the extent and types of informal foreign language learning as well as the lists of most frequent languages learned are somewhat different. The paper is based on available data, which is not as reliable and complete as that documenting foreign language learning in formal education, but can still serve to present some trends worth considering. One such trend is a big increase in foreign language learning in the pre-school and primary school period, and another is the growing demand for languages which are currently not stressed in formal education.