Morocco’s Youth Embrace English as Language Gains Economic Importance

This enthusiasm, explains Map, is due to the boom in American films, as well as the very rich and varied musical repertoire in English, which promote the learning of this language. But, even more so, it is in the professional field that this language displays all its importance, because, having become essential for the conclusion of many economic and commercial partnerships in the business world, where there are significant mixtures of nationalities.

This is the case in Morocco, a land of predilection for foreign direct investment (FDI), with the countless installations of large multinationals, in great need of quality and versatile English-speaking profiles. "The overwhelming majority of young Moroccans consider English as a vital language for their future and for that of the country," reports the same source, relaying a recent study conducted by the British Council, among 1,200 young Moroccans. For 74% of them, the shift to English responds to Morocco’s ambitions as an international business and tourism hub, while 85% see the number of Moroccans using English growing over the next 10 years.

It is often in English that technical subjects are taught, as well as university research is published for greater visibility in the world, says Samir Benmakhlouf, founder and director of the "London Academy", explaining this great interest of Moroccans in the language of Shakespeare whose mastery, like that of advanced technologies, are guarantees of economic growth for developing countries.

In view of all these interests, Morocco ensures support through the opening of several English-speaking schools offering educational programs in line with international references such as the Cambridge International Curriculum. There are several of them in the major cities of Morocco, such as London Academy, and the network of American schools which constitute incubation centers for young people wishing to study in Anglo-Saxon universities, favorable to the emergence of entrepreneurial ideas, as an alternative to salaried employment.

With the attraction of its youth for English, Morocco, a multilingual country, ensures its greater openness to the world. An invaluable asset to consolidate its position as a regional financial and industrial hub and to assert itself as a bridge between Europe and Africa.