In the tall stucco schoolhouse here with its big, airy classrooms and views of Lake Zurich, English has become part of the daily routine. Students as young as 7 are learning multiplication or discussing the weather in English.
Parents are delighted.
Everywhere people are speaking English, not just abroad. Throughout Europe, English is growing in use and acceptability. Beyond the schoolhouse here, European universities, particularly in northern Europe, are giving courses in science, philosophy and business in English. Even some companies, like the French telecommunications giant Alcatel state owned until 1982 now use English as their internal language. But the growing use of English is not going down easily everywhere.