iandol on wed 2 aug 00
Dear L. P. Skeen
Snips > I wish that in this country our children could begin learning =
another language at the tender age of 6< >I absolutely agree with this! =
Children are more adaptable to language learning than adults any day. :)
There is nothing new in this idea. And I agree that children benefit =
from learning a second or third language. One of our former imperial =
cultures believed that beside their mother tongue, all citizens should =
learn the language of the state and in addition, the language of =
commercial interchange.
I am uncertain which country either you are speaking from, but teaching =
languages is like teaching art, or pottery or music or any other art =
form.=20
Children learn what we, as adults and parents, may expect them to learn. =
They follow the examples we give them. The adopt our stereotypes. And =
depending on the quality of provision, they do it excellently or =
indifferently. It is also probably incorrect to assume that children are =
more adept or adaptable to learning anything in comparison to the pace =
at which adults can learn.=20
Until children learn learning skills, their development in any topic may =
be haphazard and progress retarded. Adults who have had even the most =
modest education have learning skills they can apply to new situations, =
often unconsciously. Hence they tend to make more rapid progress. Most =
adults who need to learn a language because they will gain benefit from =
doing so can become proficient after about six weeks immersion learning, =
that is, they could hold a conversation and survive in an unusual =
environment where they were prevented from learning their natural =
tongue. I would assert that the same things are possible for people =
wishing to learn to draw, or throw pots on the wheel, or play a =
keyboard, or write.
If parents believe their children should learn a second language in the =
formality of a school setting they must bring political pressure to bear =
on government and school management. I will not list the =
rationalisations which will be used to obstruct their wishes but they =
will meet strong, dedicated, opposition.
Ivor Lewis.
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