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I linked to a study showing the benefits of learning a foreign language--do you have a link for this assertion?
Actually you could go to the TEA website where it shows the test scores of the schools -- and shows the number of bilingual students and their test scores. The bilingual students are doing far worse especially in math and science than children who speak English only.
The drop out rate of the bilingual students is far higher than that of English speaking students. Even on the border itself, the children who speak only English overall outperform those that speak both Spanish and English.
I firmly believe that Spanish should be a mandatory additional class from grade one. Having lived in Europe for almost 30 years I am struck by how ignorant we Americans are of other languages. 20% of Americans speak Spanish. We border a Spanish speaking country. We should know Spanish.
The drop out rate of the bilingual students is far higher than that of English speaking students. Even on the border itself, the children who speak only English overall outperform those that speak both Spanish and English.
Do you honestly think that they are behind because they know two languages? I guess if they knew six languages they would be complete morons.
Actually you could go to the TEA website where it shows the test scores of the schools -- and shows the number of bilingual students and their test scores. The bilingual students are doing far worse especially in math and science than children who speak English only.
The drop out rate of the bilingual students is far higher than that of English speaking students. Even on the border itself, the children who speak only English overall outperform those that speak both Spanish and English.
A link would be helpful--I am unfamiliar with TEA, and Googling "TEA bilingual students" yields no relevant results.
It is also very different to see lower test scores among students for whom English is a second language (or is not spoken at home) than to see differences for students for whom English is the primary language spoken at home who also are learning a second language. It is important to separate the variables.
I would expect students for whom English is the language spoken at home to perform better at US schools than students for whom English is not spoken at home--most classes and tests are in English. That does not mean that learning a second language is unhelpful. That is a comparison of apples and potatoes.
should kids start learning a foreign language in grade school instead of HS? Language is absorbed the most rapidly in the formative years (1-5), but post-formative children are still able to learn a second language at a much faster rate than teenagers. Should it be required for children to spend say 20 minutes a day starting in 1st grade until middle school? It makes since when you think that in that amount of time most kids would be more proficient in a second language, than they would after the 1-2 years of foreign language that is required for most college degrees.
opinions?
I'm someone who thinks "use it or lose it." That's just my opinion. It's not based on anything I know. If they don't use it when school is not in session, I don't think little kids would retain it. I took French and Spanish in Junior High.
I'm someone who thinks "use it or lose it." That's just my opinion. It's not based on anything I know. If they don't use it when school is not in session, I don't think little kids would retain it. I took French and Spanish in Junior High.
Most non-native speakers of English here (including me) NEVER use English, I don't speak, I don't meet Anglophones and I don't interact with any of them.
I just write on the Internet, I can listen to English-sung music and watch English-spoken movies/TV Series, just that and that's something anyone can do.
And this is applies to anyone here, and guess what? We can all speak and write passable English, with mistakes, with faults and with misunderstandings sure but I understood and you understand me.
I firmly believe that Spanish should be a mandatory additional class from grade one. Having lived in Europe for almost 30 years I am struck by how ignorant we Americans are of other languages. 20% of Americans speak Spanish. We border a Spanish speaking country. We should know Spanish.
Nonsense. Are you going to equally demand that Mexicans in Mexico also learn English? It's not millions of English speakers invading them illegally it's the other way around.
I could see teaching a foreign language in lower grades being beneficial. I wouldn't bother with Spanish...it would make more sense to focus on languages spoken in countries that are economically successful and that we have major trade and business dealings with. Chinese, Japanese, German and Russian all come to mind. But Spanish? Why, unless you want a job mowing lawns or dealing drugs.
Best part is you get them out of the way at a young age and let high school age kids focus on more important classes. We are WAY behind the rest of the world in STEM and obviously put a significant focus there. In addition, trades and skills are largely ignored in most schools. A basic machine shop class, auto shop design and drafting and construction class would be far more beneficial to most students than another foreign language and teach skills that might be useful in everyday life.
The benefits of learning a second language go beyond being able to speak a second language. These are formative years and a second language increases cognitive flexibility.
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