Quote:
Originally Posted by mobertol
The basics are necessary building blocks for all subjects - these days too many kids cut and paste from the computer and don't learn anything in depth. Some can't even write long-hand which is a shame as writing things down is one of the best ways of actually learning them. Spelling etc are a necessary evil on the route to literacy.
Young children have an amazing capacity for learning languages - the sooner they start the better. I have taught English to nursery school kids in Italy and they can repeat and learn things far better than older children - they have no preconceptions about pronunciation and repeat what they hear...Lancashire accents came back at me from them, not a trace of Italian  So I think the sooner they start the better.
In my day it was French -these days what would be the ideal second language? I do "get" the quips about English as a second language in England these days! Not just for those born of parents from outside Britain either, as far as I'm concerned -many with British parents can't speak the Queen's English either- not helped by much of what is broadcast on TV these days which is truly cringe-worthy! I think personally that Spanish is a good option as is so widely spoken and is similar to Italian and French in structure, though the way Europe is going perhaps we'll all need German (odious language in my opinion - so harsh sounding!)  |
I have 2 grandsons, aged 5 and 8 Di the eldest speaks Vietnamese Chinese and English fluently, the youngest Chinese and English and a little Vietnamese, oh and by the way their mother only speaks English