European embassies push foreign languages in Saudi Arabia

Germany’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Dieter Haller is promoting German language Foreign embassies in Saudi Arabia plan to diversify language learning in the Kingdom by developing language centres for Saudi citizens and expatriates. Though English in considered the lingua franca in the business world, the embassies of France, Germany, and Italy also sponsor cultural learning centres.
Alongside the efforts of organisations such as Alliance Francais to promote French culture, the French embassy has also signed agreements with Saudi private schools to encourage teaching French as a third language in the country.
Meanwhile, the German ambassador has announced the development of a language centre in Riyadh in mid-2013 to court Saudi citizens to learn the language of Europe’s economic powerhouse.
The German ambassador, in a comment to Arab News stated: “We have about 1,000 Saudi students in Germany. A lot needs to be done on that front. We see big room for improvement. The basic hurdle is the language. We are a highly advanced and wonderful country, but language can sometimes be a barrier. German is not an easy language but one can learn it. This is the reason why our government is in close consultation with the Saudi government.”
”We have decided to set up a full-fledged language centre in Riyadh. By doing so, we hope to be more attractive to Saudi students."