Klein demonstrated another stretching position, leading the kids in more foreign languages: French, German, and Japanese. By spring, the students also will learn to count to 10 in Russian, Greek, Mandarin and Hebrew. …

"…Chinese [is the] the second most common foreign language spoken in the nation, according to 2005 U.S. Census Bureau data.

Spanish is the most common. French is third.

About 20 percent of Americans ages 5 and older speak a language other than English.

…

The long-range goal of Young Scholars is to see its graduates proficient in both Spanish and Chinese by the time they reach eighth grade — when students at most other schools are just getting started learning a foreign language.

Read the full article here LANGUAGE BARRIER

Spenser Stephens has studied the German language since age 11 and has traveled to Germany every summer for the past six years. At the language camp, German youths studied English and international students learned German. …

At the end of his stay in German, Stephens led a tour of Christmas Markets in Bavaria for a group of American tourists. He served as translator and go-between at hotels and restaurants. …

Stephens recommends his foreign experience to others. A short course leads to certification as a teacher of English as a second language, Stephens said.

"There's always a need for native English speakers to teach English in many countries," he said. …

Read the full article, German study, work widen horizons

Typically, in the United States, foreign language classes are introduced at the middle school level.  And typically, it’s just the basics while more in-depth foreign language classes don’t often begin until the senior high level.

Students often choose between learning the language of the French, German or Spanish cultures or nowadays, even Mandarin Chinese.

However, Alexandria School District 206 is looking at beginning foreign languages at an earlier age – the elementary school level. …