Discussion: Is this what American kids should do at school?

Thirty All

I came across an interesting thread on a different forum (link: http://www.city-data.com/forum/great...-language.html)

I'd like to bring the discussion here to ATRL:
Should American kids start learning foreign languages in their early years to increase their global competitiveness and become at least bilingual since most people are monolingual?

Discuss.

Caesar

Some schools already do it but in Middle School (6-8 grade)

Thirty All

Quote:

Originally posted by Caesar

Some schools already do it but in Middle School (6-8 grade)

Isn't middle school too late since a lot of people are already in their teens, right?

Wafflecakes

I mean.... a foreign language is always cool.

...but considering that English is a global language now the advantage is not that big.

Callisto.

I wish they did put more emphasis on teaching us.
I went to a private school and took spanish from Kindergarden to the 4th grade.
Then they cut it out for the rest of my years for more time for religion.

Caesar

Quote:

Originally posted by Thirty All

Isn't middle school too late since a lot of people are already in their teens, right?

True, I learned french in middle school

don't remember a thing though

dannyboy

I don't know how it works in the US, but in Sweden we have to choose a language from 6th grade that we go on to read for at least like 5 years. I honestly don't see the point, it feels so unnecessary. Especially Spanish, the most popular language to read. It's not like Spanish-speaking countries have an impact in the world or something. Chinese would be good but still that's like impossible to learn.

Thirty All

Quote:

Originally posted by Wafflinson

I mean.... a foreign language is always cool.

...but considering that English is a global language now the advantage is not that big.

It would still be more useful to know more languages since the majority of western, central, and northern Europe can speak excellent English in addition to their home languages and likely a few other European languages...

And China is on the rise, isn't it? Wouldn't it then be more useful to learn Chinese since it will soon dethrone the US?

Summertime Love

Yes. I am fluent in both English and French. I mean I can write French better than I articulate it.

Wafflecakes

Quote:

Originally posted by Thirty All

It would still be more useful to know more languages since the majority of western, central, and northern Europe can speak excellent English in addition to their home languages and likely a few other European languages...

And China is on the rise, isn't it? Wouldn't it then be more useful to learn Chinese since it will soon dethrone the US?

Laughably premature.

China is growing yes...... but it is still FARRRR away from that point.

As to your first point. Why learn their language when they already speak yours?

Gazing Ball

Quote:

Originally posted by Wafflinson

Laughably premature.

China is growing yes...... but it is still FARRRR away from that point.

As to your first point. Why learn their language when they already speak yours?

Um no it's not.

Have you seen the economy?

Wafflecakes

Quote:

Originally posted by Gazing Ball

Um no it's not.

Have you seen the economy?

Yes it is.

The whole idea that China is going to overtake us in the near term is a delusion. China has DEEP problems of its own that will only grow as their population becomes richer and more educated.

I am not saying the US can be lazy, but even if China overtakes us it will not matter. English will already be ingrained as the global language of business.