Learning foreign languages when speaking the lingua franca

This text discusses the British debate on the issue of learning foreign languages. The main question in this debate is whether or not it is necessary for the British, having the lingua franca as their native tongue, to learn foreign languages. In this text two authors confirming the necessity of learning foreign languages will be compared: Martin Jacques and Richard Holt. 
 For both authors the idea of English as the lingua franca is the starting point. According to Jacques this idea leads to "a deeply arrogant attitude" of the British thinking that everybody should speak English.1 Moreover, although being proud of their global attitude, in relation to learning a second language the British are at the same low level as Japan.2 In contrast Richard Holt states that English is "the most useful lingua franca" and being a native English speaker gives a great advantage.3 
Nevertheless, learning a foreign language is of great importance for Holt because it deepens the understanding of the own language greatly and it develops analytical thinking.4 For this reason he proposes for a compulsory learning of foreign languages until the age of 16; otherwise there will be a perpetual process of "downgrading of the importance of language teaching in schools".5 Jacques argues that learning foreign languages is necessary because the status of English as lingua franca is doubtful: English is only the second language in terms of those speaking it, furthermore, the rise of China might result in Mandarin becoming the lingua franca.6 Besides, a language is more than an instrument of communication; "[i]t is the expression of a culture".7
Both authors evaluate the problem of the lingua franca and foreign languages differently, which leads to different solutions from both sides. Holt states that the measure of compulsory learning of foreign languages until the age of 16 should be backed by schools and politicians in order to avoid empty language departments and the British not being able to communicate abroad.8 According to Jacques the government should take the following measures: first, learning a foreign language must be compulsory from the age of five; second, living in a global era means that not only European languages should be available but also languages like Mandarin; third, language skills of 'new citizens' should be used as 'a means and resource' for learning foreign languages.9 

References
Holt, R. Why bother foreign languages, The Guardian¸ 13-10-2006
Jacques, M. Does it matter if we only speak English, The Guardian¸ 15-12-2006
1 M. Jacques, Does it matter if we only speak English, The Guardian, 15-12-2006
2 Jacques, The Guardian 
3 R. Holt, Why bother learning foreign languages, The Guardian¸ 13-10-2006
4 Holt, The Guardian
5 Holt, The Guardian
6 Jacques, The Guardian
7 Jacques, The Guardian
8 Holt, The Guardian
9 Jacques, The Guardian