Why do we have to always justify learning a language?
I am delighted to hear that there are people with English as their native tongue who are interested in language learning. Sadly you are minority. I teach languages and have done so in four countries. You never hear anyone in Europe asking why should we bother with language classes, as it is a given. Sadly as a language teacher I feel that more than half of my work is made up of justifying the place of languages in the school curriculum not just to students and their parents, but also to other teachers and principals. Just look at how much time is given over to languages learning. I doubt that you had as many lessons to learn a language as you did to learn say, maths. Time is always being squeezed out of the language programme and then when students make less progress in this area, it is used as justification for scrapping it! If we were serious about language learning, like the French, who make it compulsory all the way through school, and even into university (in fact you have to do two languages just to pass your baccalaureate), then we would make it a prerequisite for tertiary entrance and you would see how much language learning would improve then! As a teacher it was compulsory for me to do mathematics. I have never used it since (yes, I use arithmetic daily but not maths, at least nothing beyond anything I learned up to year 8). I find it irritating to hear the same old, what use is it? question, when no one questions how important maths or science are. The fact that 30% of the worlds population travels overseas at some point in their lives, makes it one of the most valuable lessons on the curriculum.
Sent by: Nicky
Comments
I am currently studying German and French at A-Level, wanting to go on to do a degree. I am in a joint sixth form, and in 2 schools there are 5 of us in my French class and only me in my German class. It's really dissappointing when there are numbers like this.
But I agree with Nicky. Whenever I am asked what subjects I study, my other 2 subjects are never questioned, whereas when I say I do French and German people reel back in shock, as if I should not be doing these subjects.
I don't see why we have to have more then one language isn't one enough?
It's true, I love learning languages, my mother tongue is Spanish, but I learned English, and now I'm learning German, and people always ask me why I'm learning it when I'm already speaking English, but I just love learning languages.
I agree so many people say there is no point as everyone speaks English. Where have they been for their holidays not to the real side of a country with real people. I am studying French and Russian because I want to communicate with friends. It is never too late, I am 53 and studying with a class of year 12. Having great fun.
I agree with Nicky. There are less then ten people in my year doing both languages including myself.It saddens me to hear people say that "everybody" speaks English now so why bother. This is entirely untrue and I feel that you earn more respect for speaking a countries native language rather than getting by with English.
So very, very true and sad. We have a substitute in our local school district who is certified in French and Spanish (and, yes, she's a SUB!) whose husband, also a French teacher, retired and was never replaced. Another language teacher (German?) from the same school retired at the same time and was likewise never replaced. This sub's children went to one of the three schools in the district which had Spanish and German classes but no French. They wanted to take French since their parents were French teachers, and it was offered in another school in the district (about 10-15 min. away). She offered to pick them up and take them to that school every day, and bring them back, but the school board said no. Now, a few years later, a girl from the same school goes to that school every day for chemistry. If your school fails the standardized tests (math and science, fill in the bubble) three years in a row, they have to undergo a curriculum change in which they have a class specifically to prepare the students for the test. The classes being replaced would definitely be either foreign language or music. I really, really wish the government/school officials/people in general would realize how important and useful languages are...but I don't think that will happen anytime soon.
I have noticed this in some schools, but I am lucky in Hele's School were all students must do either: French from Year 7-11 with German from Year 7-9 or German from Year 7-11 with French from Year 7-9 and Spanish & Mandarin Chinese from Years 7-9 russian from Year 10-11 'A' Level Russian Mandarin from Year 10-11 'A' Level Mandarin Spanish from Year 10-11 'A' Level Spanish. Most classes will be taught, or at least involved, with a native speaker, apart from groups doing Russian. If only all schools could be like this...though nearby Tavistock Community College teaches Japanese.
Fine and well, Nicky, but WHICH language? A Frenchman studying English for a few years will find it immeasurably useful in travel (not just to English-speaking countries), science, entertainment, etc. A Briton or American who spends years learning French will find it useful only in one country and only to see obscure films and read books that already have excellent translations. Russian? German? Spanish? Italian? Which one? And why would that language be particularly useful?
I agree with Nicky. I have never, ever heard an explanation of why school in the UK doesn't allow students (in state schools at least) to learn other languages during school time. As the earlier years are always recognised as the vital time in language development, it makes no sense whatsoever. I feel slightly bitter that I was forced (and yes, forced is an appropriate word here) to study historical and geogaphical things which I had no interest in at the time, when my brain was primed and aching to learn more language.
Comment
Have your say
Send to a friend
© MMIX
French -
"useful only in one country
Not really. France, plus the 28 other countries where it is an official language, and then the 7 more whose people use it, yet it is not an official language.
Don't write French off as useless when it clearly isn't.
Flag this comment