Since September 1, fifth graders in the region began studying under the new federal standard, and schools decide on a second foreign language themselves. In Irkutsk and the region, it is not yet introduced everywhere. English, German, or even Chinese are most often chosen, but many schools still study only one language. Why some schools are ready for the change, while others delay it because of a shortage of specialists and funds.

Since September 1 of this year, fifth grades in all schools in the region have switched to instruction under the Federal State Educational Standard. Whether to include a second foreign language in the school timetable or not was decided by the educational institutions themselves.
Under the new standard, a second foreign language is mandatory for the school curriculum, said Russian Minister of Education and Science Dmitry Livanov. "However, we did give schools a transition period, taking into account that not everyone is ready for this yet," he clarified.
As reported by the Ministry of Education of the Irkutsk Region and the Education Department of the Irkutsk city administration, the second foreign language is introduced at the discretion of the educational institution, at the expense of the school component. Any second foreign language can be chosen; there are no restrictions.
— Most often, English or German is chosen, — Nina Vvedenskaya, head of the general education department of the Education Department of the Irkutsk city administration, told the agency. — Two languages are studied, in particular, by students of Schools No. 64 and 26 in Irkutsk, as well as Lyceum No. 3. Some even try to take three. But that is at the expense of an elective. For example, Chinese is studied at School No. 47.
The majority of Irkutsk schools still teach one foreign language, most often English.
— According to the curriculum, under the federal component of the Federal State Educational Standard, the study of one foreign language is still mandatory, — Nina Vvedenskaya clarifies. — The second language is not included in the list of compulsory subjects. It is possible that in the future schools will be required to teach two languages, but that will require a strong financial base.
The website of the Ministry of Education has published the Sample Basic Educational Program for basic general education, compiled in accordance with the Federal State Educational Standard. It provides several versions of curricula, one of which includes the study of a second foreign language.
According to the program, the introduction of a second foreign language into the timetable takes place without detriment to either the Russian language or the first foreign language. Regardless of the curriculum option, 5 hours are allocated to Russian and 3 hours to the first foreign language. Children are to study the second foreign language for 2 hours a week.
At Secondary School No. 21, a second foreign language has not yet been introduced. In the next few years, the school timetable is planned to be revised.
— Everything needs to be thought through carefully, prepared, and a specialist found, — says the institution’s director, Alexandra Olokhtonova. — If we do introduce it, it will most likely be German or Chinese.
— In general, foreign languages occupy a worthy place in the volume of the school curriculum. This is not just a means of communication, but also a means of developing a child’s memory and intellect, — Dmitry Livanov justified the need for a second foreign language in the school curriculum. — In pre-revolutionary gymnasiums, Ancient Greek and Latin were studied not because schoolchildren were expected to later converse with someone in these languages. Rather, it was because they were considered important for a child’s development. We think so too. But the problem is that the regions have a natural desire to save money on something.
— A good decision. Knowing two languages will definitely come in handy in life. Among other things, it broadens one’s horizons and helps one think outside the box. I just fear that there will be no time left at all for sports and creativity, — says Anna Pavlova, the mother of a fourth-grader and a member of the parent committee of School No. 53 in Irkutsk.