Les difficultés du plurilinguisme à l’université

French universities have not succeeded in developing the teaching and learning of languages beyond English. It is argued in this paper that the reasons are mainly institutional: lack of encompassing linguistic policies; lack of interest on the part of decision-makers and ensuing financing problems; organisational and pedagogical difficulties; an assessment system which says nothing about competencies and generates detrimental student behaviour. It is also argued that the fundamental conditions for developing multilingualism are there for the taking and we offer a few solutions to that effect.