2. Communication in a foreign language

Communication in foreign languages broadly shares the main skill dimensions of communication in the mother tongue: it is based on the ability to understand, express and interpret thoughts, feelings and facts in both oral and written form (listening, speaking, reading and writing) in an appropriate range of societal contexts — work, home, leisure, education and training — according to one’s wants or needs. Communication in foreign languages also calls for skills such as mediation and intercultural understanding. The degree of proficiency will vary between the four dimensions, between the different languages and according to the individual’s linguistic environment and heritage.

Domain Definition of the competence 2: Communication in foreign languages is the ability to understand, express and interpret thoughts, feelings and facts in both oral and written form in an appropriate range of societal contexts— work, home, leisure, education and training — in languages other than the mother tongue and the language(s) of instruction at school, according to one’s wants and needs.