Foreign language learning
My brother and I are almost fluent in Spanish, which is our second language, largely because our parents both speak fluent Spanish and we have traveled to a lot of Spanish-speaking countries in our lives. Many native English speakers do not have the opportunity to travel and don’t have parents who speak a second language, so they rely on their schools to teach foreign language. That is unfortunate, because in my observation, it is very difficult to reach any real proficiency in a second language from our public school foreign-language curriculum.
As far as I can tell, learning to speak a foreign language is not a serious priority in New York City’s public schools. There is no expectation of fluency, or even mastery. Second language is not taught at all in many elementary schools. At my old middle school, M.S. 51, language classes covered the same things three years in a row. As former M.S. 51 student Abby Beatty said, “In eighth grade I was still learning “¿Quien cocina el taco? Mi mama cocina el taco.” ( Who cooks the taco? My mom cooks the taco.) Many high schools, including my own (LaGuardia), only require one year of language.
The idea that learning another language is not as valuable as doing math or studying history is a bad message to send to kids. Learning to speak another language is beyond valuable, it is essential in a city as diverse as New York, and in a world where students in other countries begin to learn English in grade school. New York leads the world in art, fashion and commerce; why can’t our schools lead the country in foreign language education?
[Editor’s Note: State and city graduation requirements mandate a single year of foreign language instruction in high school, no more.]
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I absolutely agree and would love to see foreign language offered in elementary school, when language acquisition is easier. Why not more dual-language schools?
Comment by brooklyn mom — April 14, 2009 @ 11:30 am
I disagree strongly with this. The language of the United States is English and learning that should be the first priority of every student who goes to school in this country. One year of foreign language is sufficient as a graduation requirement. Of course, languages should be offered for those who are interested or who may want a career in which it would be beneficial to have a second language. But it would be very hard to become fluent just taking classes in school, without a parent who speaks it or travel to another country. Why should we force foreign language requirements down the throats of those students who have no interest or need. And what language would you offer? Schools don’t have the money to offer every language that exists. Future doctors and lawyers might want Latin, Asian students might want advanced chinese. New York might be diverse but this is the United States and all people who live here should be able to converse in English. Offer languages as electives, but don’t force all students to take it. It is NOT necessary.
Comment by parent — April 14, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
i agree–our son will be going to a public K, and while we love the school we do wish it offered a second language. Unlike the above poster, I think all of our kids do need to be learning second languages in order to keep up with the rest of the world. In addition, anyone who has ever studied a second language realizes that it helps you learn the rules of your own better too!
Comment by west side mom — April 15, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
No the language of the United States is NOT English. The United States has no official language. Anyway, everywhere else in the world kids are learning a second language right from the earliest years. Our kids are at a huge disadvantage being monolingual. People are battling to get their kindergartners into the dual-language programs around the city…a sure sign that even the single-language programs should have some second language component!
Comment by Jennifer M — April 17, 2009 @ 7:58 am
I think this is nice things if we learn about another language….It’s a great thing….
Comment by Vie — April 24, 2009 @ 6:58 am
I live in The Bronx where there are language barriers for monolingual English speakers. All Bronx kids and their parents should learn Spanish and English.
Comment by sjs — June 19, 2009 @ 9:04 pm