Reply to Immersion and other language classes in schools. Which language and why?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I kind of agree, but isn't the learning of another language in elementary more for just experiencing learning another language?  With this in mind, any of the languages would be fine.  It's difficult to know whether any learning would be of particular use in a job.  I think middle and high school is when you really learn a language.  I hear by the end of 6th, most children at least in the one or two days a week classes can't even pass a level one test.[/quote]

If you just want your child to have the experience of learning a foreign language then yes, any language is fine, but my interpretation of the whole immersion craze is that people finally caught on to the research that show you learn languages, easier, can achieve higher levels,of fluency when you begin learning as a child, which presupposes that you are interested in maintaining and reaping the benefits of that skill, either through continued study at a higher level or, eventually, through work, travel, etc.

I'm sure some people would be satisfied for their kids to do Chinese immersion for six years of elementary school and then never speak or study it again but to me it seems a missed opportunity. But I have a different view than a lot of people on children learning languages in that I don't think you can force them to learn and to a certain degree it is a gift and not everyone can learn other languages easily, even if they begin as children, unless they are in a true immersion situation. This is why I didn't feel comfortable choosing immersion for my kids even though I speak four languages, because I want them to choose it for themselves when they are interested and ready, which doesn't happen automatically when you are five.[/quote]

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