BabyUniversity.com › Forums › Hot Topics › Great Debate › Do you think it should be mandatory to learn a second language?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Do you think it should be mandatory to learn a second language?

post #1 of 10
1/28/08 at 4:28am
Thread Starter 
Do you think it should be mandatory to learn a second language when you attend school?..... (most country's school systems in the world have it as a requirement!)

The reason I ask is that a few weeks ago I got a flyer from Ally's elementary school offering Spanish classes (before and after school - I would have to pay for it). I really wish that we could afford to do it, especially at her age when learning a second language is MUCH easier. But the cost is prohibitive for us - $300 for 6 or 7 weeks of classes!

Most other country's require ALL students to learn a second language (the most common to learn is English, BTW). Do you think our schools should require it, as well? And NOT at an additional cost to parents, but as part of their cirriculum.

I'm interested to see what others think about this!
Reply
post #2 of 10
1/28/08 at 4:57pm
Mandatory, as an extra out-of-pocket cost? NO.

A good idea... YES.

My thought is this.... If you make a 2nd language mandatory, which language and why?
Although it seems like English is now going to be our 2nd language in the US and we will have to learn Spanish to exist here (don't EVEN get me started), in all actuality CHINESE would be a better language to learn, especially for the global business market.

Anyway...if it does become a mandatory thing, fine..... it needs to be blended into the curriculum at no extra cost to the parents AND there needs to be choice. It will be interesting to see.....
Reply
post #3 of 10
1/28/08 at 5:08pm
I think it depends on where you live as to whether it's mandatory or not. I was required to have three years of a foreign language in order to graduate High School in Virginia Beach. Granted that was also in 94, so it may not be the same.

Having lived in Europe twice now... I do think it should be mandatory. It is very rare to meet a European who doesn't speak 3 or more langauges. Most of them speak English, their own language and one other (here alot of people seem to speak French as the third language). As the world is becoming more of a global society I do think it should be part of the curriculum at all schools. I don't think they should specify a certain language, I think they should offer a variety of languages... I think that there should be optional clubs in elementary schools to teach languages (because kids are sponges at that age... I bet they could get a teacher or a parent who spoke a different language to teach or invest in Muzzy.. It's pricey for a household, but for a school it would be nothing to afford it). Then in Middle School there should be several languages offered (French, German, Spanish, Chinese, Russian... whatever minimum of 4 options) and continued through High School. I think the three years of one language or two years of two languages that my school system required was fair.
Reply
post #4 of 10
1/28/08 at 11:47pm
If it is manditory then there shouldn't be an additional cost.

I do think though that it should be offered starting in elementary schools. But I agree with Kim. How do you determine WHICH language should be offered. Not all schools could afford 3 or 4. I think you'd be lucky to get 2.
Reply
post #5 of 10
1/29/08 at 12:44am
In Georgia, to get a college prep diploma when you graduate from high school, two years of a foreign language is mandatory. At our public colleges, to get a bachelor's degree in ANYTHING if you don't have two years of foreign language in high school, you must take a year of foreign language in college.
Do I think learning a foreign language should be required? No. Do I think it's a good idea? Probably. My preference for Emily would be that she learn Latin and Spanish or French or whatever.
Reply
post #6 of 10
1/29/08 at 5:03am
Thread Starter 
Personally, I do think a foreign language should be mandatory and I think it should start in elementary school. It's much easier for them to learn the basics when they are young. I had 5 years of Spanish and 1 year of French and can't speak either of them!

As for what languages to take, I think alot of that depends on where you live. Here in Texas, the obvious choices are Spanish, Chinese and Korean (if you can believe that!).

I graduated in 83 and we were required to have 2 years of a language even back then.
Reply
post #7 of 10
1/30/08 at 12:13am
It should only be required if you are coming to the US from another country and you should be learning ENGLISH! That bugs me too, Kimmer. I did take Spanish in high school. It's an easy language to learn. French is prettier sounding though.
Reply
post #8 of 10
1/30/08 at 12:22pm
Yep... I learned Spanish in HS... we only needed one year of Foreign Language back then. I do speak a little Spanish now.... did a "medical Spanish" class so I could communicate more with my Spanish-speaking patients.

I would love to learn French. It is a really pretty language. My Grandparents (who came from French-speaking Canada) spoke fluent French and English. My Grandpa would sing to me in French when I had my migraines... it was very pretty.
Reply
post #9 of 10
1/31/08 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by KimmerRN
Mandatory, as an extra out-of-pocket cost? NO.

A good idea... YES.
I agree!

My kids are learning Chinese right now. They will learn Spanish, or German in High school(ofcourse my kids are a little experienced in Spanish since we speak it at home some).
Reply
post #10 of 10
1/31/08 at 3:25pm
The way the population is getting, it would be a good idea to start Spanish in elementary school. But around here, they're having a hard enough time finding the money to have someone teach English to the kids that don't speak it very well or even at all so what would be sacrificed in order to offer it?
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Great Debate
BabyUniversity.com › Forums › Hot Topics › Great Debate › Do you think it should be mandatory to learn a second language?