Band 8+: The pie charts below show responses by teachers of foreign languages in Britain to a survey concerning why their students are learning a foreign language. The first chart shows the main reason for learning a foreign language. The second chart shows how many teachers felt that there has been a recent change in the reason.

The pie charts illustrate the main reasons why students in Britain learn foreign languages, and the proportion of teachers who noticed recent changes in this reasons.

Overall, business/work was the most significant reason for learning a foreign language, while foreign partner was the least common among students. Among the reasons that had recently changed, buying property overseas accounted for the largest proportion, whereas travel was the least significant.

According to the first chart, travel accounted for the largest proportion, at 33 percent. This was followed by business/work, at 26 percent and buying property overseas, at 19 percent. Social contact and personal development each represented 7 percent, while general interest accounted for 5 percent. The remaining reasons accounted for small proportions, with foreign partner being the least common at 3 percent.

Turning to the second chart, buying property overseas represented the largest proportion, at 34 percent. This was followed by business/work, at 19 percent. Social contact and no change each accounted for 15 percent, while general interest represented 6 percent. Personal development and foreign partner each stood, at 4 percent, and travel was the smallest category at 3 percent.