 Little Italy in Wales: Twynrodyn pupils role-play a cafe scene |
Fewer than a quarter of Welsh pupils are leaving school at 16 with a good foreign language qualification - the lowest figure in more than 10 years. In Wales, 32% of pupils enter modern foreign language exams compared to 68% in England.
The Welsh Assembly Government said it was keen to reverse the decline and is introducing projects to help introduce children to language learning.
But officials said there are no plans to make foreign languages compulsory.
Welsh is currently compulsory up to age 16, but the assembly government has no plans to add modern European languages to the list of compulsory subjects.
Just 24% of teenagers pass GCSEs in modern languages at grade C and above.
But officials say Education Minister Jane Davidson is keen to reverse the decline.
A number of projects are under way in Welsh schools to try to help children learn more languages.
At Whitchurch High School, in Cardiff, French teacher Matt Jones organises language taster days to try to persuade 14-year-olds to not drop French, German and Spanish when they choose their GCSE options.
Young age
He has enlisted the help of Germany's representative in Wales, Honorary Consol Helga Rothka Simmonds to try to encourage the teenagers.
In Twynrodyn Community School, in Merthyr Tydfil, a pilot project, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government, is helping introduce children to language at a young age.
 Modern languages were compulsory in Wales until 1996. |
Head teacher Michelle Jones is a language specialist who says the pilot is succeeding with the pupils, who start learning Spanish, French and Italian from six.
She said: "The pupils learn a foreign language alongside their Welsh.
"It's fun - the children enjoy it and the teachers enjoy it.
"These are languages the children can use. When they go on holiday they can order food and drinks - and when they come back they tell us that they've been understood - and that's really important to them.
"I'd definitely tell other schools to get involved - there's lots of help out there for non-specialist teachers."
Nearly �750,000 in funding has been put into projects like the one at Twynrodyn Primary School.
Business organisations have said that while English is a global language, skills in other languages among Welsh workers would businesses compete internationally.
David Rosser from employers' organisation the CBI said: "There is no doubt that you'll always do better if you can speak to your customers in their own language.
"If we are to keep up with leading countries elsewhere then languages are going to be an important skill for years to come."
He added the world economic picture was changing dramatically and that schools should now consider offering Mandarin Chinese and Spanish to students.
One area in which there is a growth in language learning in Wales is the adult sector.
Colleges and universities have reported that record numbers of adults are joining classes.
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When they go on holiday they can order food and drinks - and when they come back they tell us that they've been understood - and that's really important to them
