| Many Children NOT Encouraged to Acquire a Foreign | | | | foreign language can be one way of allowing our |
| Language | | | | children and ourselves to cope with the almost |
| While nearly a third of UK parents do not actively | | | | constant barrage of new cultures, foods, music, |
| encourage their children to acquire a second or foreign | | | | fashion, technology and ideas which pour down on us |
| language according to a study by the National Centre | | | | like the rain of a hurricane gone wild. |
| for Languages (CILT), foreign language learning should | | | | What's a foreign language teacher or concerned |
| be encouraged and developed to a much higher | | | | parent to do? |
| degree in schools worldwide. True, many parents, both | | | | The ethnic makeup of cities, neighborhoods and in |
| in the UK and the USA, may harbour their own | | | | some cases, entire countries is shifting in ways we |
| personal prejudices on foreign language learning, this | | | | could never have accurately predicted. The local news |
| should not be allowed to alternatively shape the | | | | stand might now stock newspapers and magazines in |
| growth, development and education of their children. | | | | foreign tongues. From French and Spanish to Arabic |
| Globally aware parents really need to consider the long | | | | and Punjabi, the media is changing to reflect the |
| term view of what their children may well face in the | | | | altering makeup of our communities. Are you? |
| coming decades. | | | | Stroll through your local supermarket. Notice anything |
| Think about this: How many of you could have | | | | new on the shelves of late? I certainly do. Even the |
| predicted doing the job you have right now as recently | | | | meat counter now sports "cuts" of beef like cow's |
| as ten years ago? Look around your house. How | | | | eyes and lungs, pork, lamb and chicken parts like |
| many possessions, digital, electronic or otherwise, could | | | | chicken feet among others, that were noticeably |
| you have named when you were in school? How has | | | | absent just a short time ago. The same follows with |
| your occupation, livelihood and daily life been impacted | | | | fruits and vegetables on offer. Plantain, yucca, a |
| by changes on an everyday basis which you couldn't | | | | widening variety of hot and mild peppers, jicama, |
| even have dreamed of as a youth, young adult or | | | | mamey, and a host of other "imported" offerings now |
| even just a few short years ago? As a youth, I swore | | | | routinely grace shelves once reserved only for more |
| I'd never be a teacher. Now I'm a university level | | | | "traditional" fare. |
| English as a foreign language professor. Go figure. | | | | Foreign Languages Come in Families |
| Which Foreign Language Should Your Child Learn? | | | | So as far as foreign language learning is concerned, |
| But just which foreign language should your child learn? | | | | what should you be considering for your child or |
| The question is much more complex than you might | | | | children? Well, look at how the ethnic makeup of your |
| initially imagine. Just because you bombed French in | | | | area is changing, then consider what foreign languages |
| junior high school doesn't mean that the only "French" | | | | might be useful to know in the short and long term. |
| your child should learn is "French fries". By the way, | | | | Remember, if you can speak one language fluently, |
| that's not even French, either. If "caramba" or "Ole" are | | | | there's absolutely no reason why you (or your child) |
| your only Spanish, that shouldn't be the root cause of | | | | can't learn two or three or more foreign languages. |
| your child not becoming fluent in Castellano. | | | | Yes, some foreign languages a re more difficult to |
| Unfortunately, all too often this is the case. Your | | | | learn than others, depending on what your first |
| parents, grandparents and perhaps even you may not | | | | language is, but that's not to say a foreign language |
| have had the opportunity for exposure to Chinese in | | | | outside the linguistic family of your first language (L1) |
| one of its multiple dialects, but don't automatically as a | | | | can't be learned. It'll just take a bit more time and effort |
| matter of course, rule it out for your charges. The | | | | to do so. There are approximately 6712 languages |
| world has changed and continues to morph at what | | | | spoken worldwide at present. Many are disappearing, |
| may well be an alarming rate for many teachers, | | | | but many others are not. Consider well and choose |
| parents and even children themselves. Acquisition of a | | | | wisely, grasshopper. Your child's depending on you. |