Learning languages

The linked article points out the current decline in children learning
modern languages and some of the consequences.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/aug/24/who-still-wants-learn-languages

I wasn't aware that modern language learning was no longer compulsory
after age 14. That strikes me as rather daft. I did French until 18 and
wish I had also learnt some German while at school. I also did Dutch at
night classes for two years.

I think learning a second language up to age 16 should be compulsory -
what says ukrm?

 

It wasn't compulsory even when I did my O-levels, back when they were
still O-levels.

(No Cane references, please. Ta.)

 

I did French up until 18 but I was a crap student.

My son currently does Spanish & German and is much better at the latter after
one year than the former after four years.

Options year is coming up so hoping to persuade him to do at least one FL.

 

While thinking the whole world should speak English I agree with you. I've
suggested to the lad he considers Spanish and Mandarin.

 

I did French up to GCSE. The last two years of the language have served
me pretty much no use whatsoever in the years since. I don't really
think it makes much difference.

Languages are good, no question. But if you don't use them, they're
worth dick all, so why force people for the sake of it? An extra two
years of asking the way to the station and saying how many sisters you
have really doesn't achieve much.

Notwithstanding my comments above, I'm about to sign up to a Spanish
class for no good reason. First choice was Arabic but the alphabet
stumps me every time. And it starts too early on a Tuesday. One day, one
day.

 

I think I was the only child in my year to pass German O level and I don't
recall being very good at it. I can barely speak a word of it 30 years later
(not that I've ever had to). I get the feeling there must be a better way to
teach a foreign language than when I did it. It seemed incredibly boring.
Mind you having seen the way they teach it at my sons' school I'm not
entirely sure that method is better. They seem to spend time learning about
Germany more than they learn German.

--
Malc

Rusted and ropy.
Dog-eared old copy.
Vintage and classic,
or just plain Jurassic:
all words to describe me.

 

While I would agree, it would be nice if they taught fucking English
first!

--
Veggie Dave
http://www.iq18films.co.uk

"To assert that the earth revolves around the sun is as erroneous as to claim
that Jesus was not born of a virgin." Cardinal Bellarmine

 

Indeed. At my school, a lower league public school, the boys who did not
want to do Spanish in addition to French could opt for Agricultural Science
[1] in year 3. For year 4, all languages could be dropped and the AS was
available as an O'level.

I did AS in year 3 and struggled on with French. I really didn't get on
with the way it was taught, aiming for an Oxford & Cambridge O'level. I
wasn't the only one so the school experimented with 15 of us and we did the
AEB syllabus. Most of us passed the GCSE. The teacher was the least liked
teacher in the school, nicknamed Smelly, and a very strict disciplinarian.
He was an excellent teacher, though. I met him a few times socially after
leaving the school. He was actually a decent bloke who liked a few pints of
Draught Bass.

[1] a large proportion of the boys were from farming families and a couple
of years at agriculture college before taking over the family estate was
the norm.

 

I think we need to concentrate on getting 100% to be literate and
numerate before we get too ambitious

 

I'll never forget my French GCSE oral, when I was desperately trying to
think of a way to ask the examiner to repeat the question, but knew for
sure that péter meant to fart and figured répéter probably meant to fart
again.

Still, got an A, so I must have figured it out one way or another.

 

languages can broaden the mind and make us more tolerant. If we all
leant Arabic and a bit about the Koran .....
I got designated "French speaker" when I went to le Loire back in
2000. Hadn't used French in 25 years; managed to drive, eat and find
accommodation; can make travelling so much more fulfilling.
Learning languages is supposed to effect a specific part of the brain
and theoretically a good thing for the young and the elderly.
We are thinking about making Maori compulsory here in NZL. Apparently
the Maori language has the most words for faecal matter

 

yes, I'm sure every Arab believes that and we should hate, fear and
kill them all - do you wear one of those tall pointy hats ?

 

That may be true, but I thought Candide was a fucking riot even
translated into English.

And sometimes it even pays dividends: see Asterix, for example.

 

Fuckingmonkeybollocks [1] - I trimmed the bit I was actually replying
to. But I'm sure you get the gist...

[1] Do the French even have a word for that?

 

Not entirely sure what your point is, in the context.

 

Shake off the Académie française shackles, sunshine.

 

Yes. But I was using as an example of when the translation from the
original language introduces gags that weren't necessarily even there in
the original. Anthea Bell & Derek Hockridge did a sterling job, beyond
that usually performed by translators. My point was that sometimes, if
you find the right translators, it pays off. Even if you, personally
didn't like it.

To go back to your original point, the idea that Beckett translated into
French and back again is turgid shit is hardly surprising given that
Beckett in English is, well, I suppose at least it's not Joyce. Or, in
other words, I'll see your Beckett and raise you a Haruki Murakami. Lets
call the whole thing off.

 

As I said before, feed Beckett in at one end and you can't be surprised
when you get borderline-unintelligible bollocks out the other. Which is
why I picked Candide as an example to the contrary.

Cab, where are you when we need you?

I recommend Murakami, btw. Even the Mitchell knock-off was a good read.

 

Because it teaches you a different way of thinking. And it teaches you
to think more clearly. Studying foreign languages has improved my
command of English.
I studied Latin for one year and German for 3 years in secondary
school, Russian for 1 year in the US army, and Hebrew in an Israeli
ulpan. I've forgotten most of the vocabulary and grammar of what I
learned because I don't use any of them, but the effect on my English
is indelible.

 

*DING*