More and more cross-border workers working in the Grand Duchy want to learn the language of the country that employs them. “The number of people who have decided to speak Luxembourgish has thus increased in our country, but also abroad”, observes the Minister of National Education Claude Meisch.

The number of participants in the Luxembourgish course has doubled in 10 years. In Belgium, courses are sold out.

The Grand Duchy watches over its identity and its 20-year plan to raise awareness of learning its language seems to be succeeding. A way of safeguarding the culture of a country in which only a third of the children arriving at school speak Luxembourgish. “With the speed of change in our country, Luxembourgish is no longer learned automatically at home,” explains Claude Meisch. We must take steps to preserve our language and give it the place it deserves. »

The National Institute of Languages ​​(INL) is also opening an additional branch. “In ten years, the number of registrations has more than doubled, rising to nearly 5,500 registrations this year!, welcomes the Minister. Over the past five years, the Luxembourgish courses for adults of the INL and the Ministry’s Adult Education Service have attracted more than 68,000 registrations. »

The offer is going digital

The Covid has accelerated the digitization of INL courses. The face-to-face course schedule will no longer be a barrier. “The blended-learning courses (part of distance learning, the other face-to-face) are now part of the overall offer, the language test exists in a digital version and a version on a digital tablet is in the process of being programming, a new level test in Luxembourgish, accessible worldwide, will be ready for the start of the 2022/2023 school year. »

Courses adapted for cross-border workers from different sectors

The Luxembourg State is continuing its efforts for former cross-border workers who come to work in the Grand Duchy. The aim is to offer Luxembourgish courses to workers in different sectors: hospitals, businesses, etc.

In February 2022, the Embassy of Luxembourg in Paris organized a week-long Luxembourgish course which was very successful. Following this positive experience, collaboration with our embassies around the world will be strengthened to respond to interest from abroad. “And mastering Luxembourgish is an advantage for entering the labor market in our country,” advises the Minister of Education.

A free online offer to learn Luxembourgish

worldwideA new learning platform, called “Lëtzebuergesch léieren online”, will be delivered at the start of the 2022/2023 academic year. “The initial offer includes basic courses, then higher and higher levels will come to expand the program”, specifies the Minister.

The platform offers an interface in German, French, English, Portuguese and Luxembourgish, modules for formal learning (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, etc.), but also informal (news, cultural life, etc.) and specialized modules purchased to dozens of academic and professional topics.

The learning device also provides an online social network that allows learners from all over the world to get in touch and exchange experiences.