This study analyzes the effect of language policies for the teaching of foreign languages in the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, based on the basic postulate of sociolinguistics - that of establishing a relation between language and society. Our analysis takes into account a set of data derived from the historical, economic and social context of a few selected municipalities of the State. We consider the socioeconomic insertion of citizens in the regions under investigation as one of the criteria to evaluate the efficiency of the language policies adopted. Thus, we consider the language policies as reflected in the teaching of foreign languages, taking into account, first of all, the legal means and measures, as expressed in laws and decrees. We also attempt to show how a part of the society fills the gaps related to foreign language teaching-or the lack thereof- in the educational system.