At Lycée Michel Rodange (LMRL), a pilot project launched in September 2023 is exploring the role of Luxembourgish in secondary education by offering it as an optional fourth language to students. In a class of seven pupils, the subject is currently taught for three hours a week, and this year marks the first time students are sitting a final-year (Première) exam in Luxembourgish.
The system is clearly structured. From Year 11 (Troisième), students can choose Luxembourgish as a fourth language, replacing an optional subject and adding an extra hour to their timetable. In Year 12 (Deuxième), they can then drop either German or French if they continue with Luxembourgish. By the final year, depending on their study focus (tracks B to G), they can take Luxembourgish as part of their main curriculum.
According to studies, Luxembourgish is the main language for around 49% of the population. In a multilingual country like Luxembourg, it is seen as a key tool for integration in everyday life.
Speaking to RTL, teacher Catherine Millim emphasises this point, describing Luxembourgish as “the language of integration” and noting that “it is being written, read, and spoken more than ever before”.
This view is echoed more broadly in public debate. While some voices on social media claim that Luxembourgish is not spoken enough, Culture Minister Eric Thill has pushed back, stressing that the language remains central to society and that more courses are being offered than ever before.
In Years 11 and 12, students gradually learn spelling and grammar step by step. By the final year, the focus shifts to literature. Pupils study a novel and a play, one of which is included in the final exam, where they must analyse quotations and place them in context, which is similar to German exams.
Millim also underlined that being able to write Luxembourgish is increasingly valuable and in demand. The course has received positive feedback from the participating students.
One student described it as “a unique opportunity, because no other school offers this in the same way”, while another highlighted the variety of the lessons, saying the course is engaging and far from boring. A third student said they particularly enjoyed reading literature, but also appreciated learning grammar, as it is a skill many people still lack.
Although the pilot project has been well received by the participating students, no additional classes have been opened in other year groups due to insufficient enrolment. Alongside Luxembourgish, students at Lycée Michel Rodange can also choose other fourth languages such as Spanish, Italian, or Chinese.
