A Government-commissioned review is recommending that primary school pupils be given compulsory foreign language lessons. They hope that this will ensure that interest in those languages survives up to GCSE level.
Good idea, and while they’re at it, some proper English grammar lessons for the little darlings would also be desirable.
March 12th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Yes please, and the sooner the better. But it is so much better if it can be taught by “native” teachers. It’s one of my wishes, to improve my French. I know you are an expert with languages and my regret is that being half Greek, my mother did not teach me the language when I was young.
March 15th, 2007 at 4:18 pm
To no one’s surprise, the languages they want to indoctrinate our indigenous children with are Urdu and Hindi. Actually, Hindi is the basis for all Indo-European languages, so it’s not a bad idea as an academic excerise. But I think other European languages or a Chinese language will get our children further than learning how to get around in Pakistan.
March 15th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
But I think other European languages or a Chinese language will get our children further than learning how to get around in Pakistan.
I agree with you, Verity, but somehow I don’t think this Government is really interested in ‘getting our children further in learning’. What? So that they can become independent, responsible adults with good jobs and no need to rely on the State for anything?
March 15th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Bel - Quite.
March 19th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
How clever! teach all these kiddies languages _ just at the time when you are telling them they are not allowed to fly anywhere and use them. Perhaps this could be the next policy of the green fascists: ban foreign language teaching because it only encourages people to fly. I think I should write a spoof post along these lines for CiF and see how many people I can get to agree with me.
March 19th, 2007 at 8:51 pm
I think I should write a spoof post along these lines for CiF and see how many people I can get to agree with me.
Somehow, I can actually see this working.