Is it time we realised just how good the English language is? If someone wants to do it then fine do it, but as an option. instead of French or Spanish,German or whatever lets teach more Maths science and English. We can get along without the burden of these extra languages.
This goes for RE and home economics too. The pundits say that we have not increased, as is wanted, the levels of literacy and numeracy in our schooleavers in recent years. Well lets teach literacy and numeracy as much as we can,
It's only an idea :idea:
I couldnt disagree more for the obvious reasons.
It's surprising just how learning a foreign language can help in other subjects.
Take algebraic expression for example which is a language all of it's own.
Kids minds are like sponges and soak it all up. They may not appreciate it at the time but it is surprising how, many many years later, it all comes back to them and is extremely useful.
I'm presently learning French the hard way. I did German at school over 40 years ago and can still count to infinity and other useful things which I learnt then. V on the other hand did French at school and she is streets ahead of me in conversation.
Peoples brains are wired in different ways, some people will never ever get maths or physics or chemistry no matter how hard they try....but they might handle languages without batting an eyelid.
Personally, french should be a compulsory subject from 4+, whether you choose to pursue it when you get to your "options" is up to you.
I find it embarissing as a nation that we expect others to speak English yet put zero effort into other languages.
It just depends on whatever study, test, exam results, etc have come out depends which way we are going to knee jerk this week.
One week we need better maths, the next we need better English, the next we need better science, the next we need better home economics, etc.
As far as should we stop learning foreign languages? If we do, then our population will be insular and likelihood of gaining jobs abroad would be small.
Dave_Notts
I'm hoping this IS a Devil's Advocate posting.
I'm currently running a big project, and we have software developers involved from Germany and France as well as us Brits, and it's quite humbling thast the europeans can have quite a technical conversation in English yet we can barelly order a beer in their language.
I do think that there needs to be a choice, but at least one language must be compulsory.
Touche swordsman I liked that riposte. (enuff wi the fencing puns Ed)
OK to elaborate on my earlier disagreement post.
I think GNV spoke sense.
Edumacation aint about learning to read and write or add up. You can do that in a couple of hours a week over a couple of years.
School aint about edumacation either, well not in the traditional sense.
By providing a wide ranging and stimulating syallabus in a socail environment schools do more good than harm and with the added bonus that us grown ups dont have to mind kids all day unless we choose to do so.
Just what I like to see, another thread of parochial bollox.
But to be on the safe side, I'll vote for binning RE. The biggest waste of time since Moses was sent by the Lord to pick up some spare ribs.
I guess i was playing Devils advocate really though with no maliciousness intended, just a want for a discursive thread to fall in with what i've been thinking about and dealing with these past few days.
I do believe that we hold to much store in the idea that we must learn another language because other countries have learnt ours. Speaking English to me is just our good fortune, thats all.
English is without doubt the international language being used in communications, science, business, aviation, entertainment, radio and diplomacy. It is important for those countries who don't speak it to do so but as for the British speaking other languages it is less important. Dispassionately Thats just how it is.
OK, I can see the point that education is more than just the three r's but lets get the three r's in first properly and primarily. If thats not going to well with some children, which undoubtedly won't, then lets have a, what is to me, more sensible option of vocational training from the age of 12/13 years.
I understand everyone has different stories to tell but just a quick word on the cooking section of my sons homec which he is partaking of at the moment. the last thing he cooked was biscuits. OK, fine but then he had to take in all the four ingredients ready weighed up. same as the scone recipe the week before and the bread recipe the week before that.
I'm sorry but thats all rubbish. What is the likelihood of my boys needing to fend for themselves in years to Saying
"Oh i'm hungry i'll cook some biscuits for dinner later"
Yeah as if. More like how they should boil, grill, fry, toast in safety would be useful. Or microwave properly, defrost etc etc. together with some of the science bits.
As for RE pah!
Might be an idea to teach children to speak english first!
Heres an idea, teach sign language in schools, guaranteed in life we are going to encounter deaf people and sign language (Makaton) is pretty much universal, BSL is not much different to American SL and all other countries versions, i think this would be far more useful to learn that traditional language options
) 
Also, Spanish is a lot more widespread thoughout the world, south america being the prime example.
Seeing as China deals with the world not just in China.
