I Would Like to Speak Many Languages
I wish I could. I had Spanish in High School. Other than a few words and phrases, I don't remember any of it. It would really come in handy as a soccer coach, as I've had kids whose parents don't speak much, if any, English.
At the root of it, I blame the way we handle "foreign" languages here in the US. We typically don't even introduce kids to a second language until they reach high school (around 14 years old, for those from elsewhere who don't know our school system). That is, for most people, far too late. The mind is open to language development when we're young. That's why babies and toddlers learn to speak their native tongues so quickly - and why those exposed to a second language at home pick that up as well. But instead of introducing kids to a language in 1st or 2nd grade, when they're 6 or 7, we wait until High School.
Just another aspect of our educational system that's rooted in turn-of-the-century (as in, turn of the 20th century) ideology rather than made current - in particular, designed to make good little factory workers rather than free thinkers.
At the root of it, I blame the way we handle "foreign" languages here in the US. We typically don't even introduce kids to a second language until they reach high school (around 14 years old, for those from elsewhere who don't know our school system). That is, for most people, far too late. The mind is open to language development when we're young. That's why babies and toddlers learn to speak their native tongues so quickly - and why those exposed to a second language at home pick that up as well. But instead of introducing kids to a language in 1st or 2nd grade, when they're 6 or 7, we wait until High School.
Just another aspect of our educational system that's rooted in turn-of-the-century (as in, turn of the 20th century) ideology rather than made current - in particular, designed to make good little factory workers rather than free thinkers.
51-55, M
