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The Edutopia Poll
by Sara Ring
Recently, Senator Barack Obama caused a stir when he told a crowd that although immigrants should learn English, "you need to make sure your child can speak Spanish." Though some objected on principle to his call for bilingualism, it raises an interesting point. Is Spanish, still overwhelmingly the most popular foreign language taught in U.S. schools, the best choice? Is it more practical than French, spoken in twice as many countries from Canada to the Congo? China's powerhouse role on the world stage has made Mandarin Chinese an increasingly popular choice for students. Speaking Arabic, Hebrew, and other key languages can also open doors. In today's ever-shifting international landscape, which foreign language should take priority in schools?
Just learn another language, any language
Submitted by Janice Holter Kittok (not verified) on August 17, 2008 - 10:18.
Schools, parents and students often expend a considerable amount of energy trying to decide which language is the "best" language to learn. The answer in my opinion is ANY lcanguage in addition to your native tongue is a good language to learn. It doesn't matter which one. First, once you go through the langauge-learning experience learning any language becomes easier. Second, the process opens your eyes, mind and heart to a different way of thinking and viewing the world so the language choice itself is almost insignificant. Study a language that is interesting to you. Schools should start programs that they can do well for a sequence of several years. There's no such thing as a "bad" language to learn!
Multi-Lingual
Submitted by Rachel Horwitz (not verified) on August 5, 2008 - 08:48.
Italian is also spoken like it is written. All kids should learn another language. In Europe many people are bi-lingual. They start learning another language in the 2nd grade, then they pick up another in middle school. The more languages the better.
What is the easiest language to learn?
Submitted by sandra Morales (not verified) on August 4, 2008 - 17:01.
Spanish is the easiest language to learn. The main reason it is easy, is because you pronounce the words the same way you write them. Besides, Spanish is the most spoken language in this country after English. However, students should have different choices because in America we have people that speak other languages, and would like their children to learn their language.
Learning the Heritage Language
Submitted by Genene Kluck (not verified) on August 2, 2008 - 11:22.
Living here in California we see a very diverse group of children in the public schools and my experience over the past 25 years tells me that the best way is bilingual & children need to learn the heritage language (home) first so that they always have a strong connection to their extended family....I am a strong advocate for biliteracy....children should learn to fully read, write, calculate, & of course become proficient orally as well. I would say that it is very important for biingual children to learn a third language, whether the language is Asian or Middle Eastern in origin ....we need global communication expertise!
English! The questions asks
Submitted by BG (not verified) on July 31, 2008 - 06:40.
English!
The questions asks "what is the most practical language ..."
Considering what we often see, English needs to be much better learned!
The most practical foreign language to learn
Submitted by CAM (not verified) on July 30, 2008 - 18:58.
I chose Spanish because except for English, that is the predominant first language spoken in the area I live. (California)
"Practical" language
Submitted by Lawrence S. Lerner (not verified) on July 30, 2008 - 15:43.
It doesn't matter too much which language a student learns first after his/her native one.
Learning the first foreign language is always the most difficult, because one has to learn both the language itself and how to learn a language. After that, subsequent languages can be picked up much more easily. My own experience was that after extensive formal instruction in French and minimal formal instruction in German, I picked up five other languages on my own, two of which I speak pretty well now, and from one of which I published a book translation into English.
Foreign language education
Submitted by Don Morgan (not verified) on July 30, 2008 - 15:01.
First and foremost,all students should know English,real English,not "textspeak"or ghetto slang. I have had students answer questions on an assignment with "idk" or some other made up language.How can one express themselves by using mediocre speaking/writing skills? Our kids aren't dumb, just lazy!
Learning languages
Submitted by Tina (not verified) on July 30, 2008 - 13:06.
I believe that everyone should learn the language of the country in which they live (or at least make an attempt to learn it. I am the granddaughter of immigrants and my grandparents never fully learned English). Those who know only the language of their country should learn a second language of their choice. If a person (unfortunately not me), has an “ear” for languages they should learn as many as possible. To me “learn” could be interpreted as everything from conversational to reading and writing. In my opinion, as the world shrinks knowing multiple languages will become imperative.
It depends, but learn one (or more!)
Submitted by Richard Tetu (not verified) on July 30, 2008 - 12:35.
It depends on so many factors. For college bound students, probably French, but any romance language will help. For diplomacy, sports, French again. Most of the times for regular jobs in the U.S., Spanish. For psych majors, German.
Most importantly, learn a second one, then another, then another... English is my second language, but I also have French, Spanish, Greek, Latin, (I know, dead languages..). German, and I am now touching Japanese. My kids know at least three languages , two or three fluently. It allows them to travel and get a lot more real contact with local people.
I teach World Languages and English, and I don't understand the hangup about starting; it improves your mother tongue to learn another language, if anything.
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