| While I agree with some of the article referenced below, I do not agree with all of it. For example, while I do agree that "… children who learn a language at an early age adapt better than those who study languages after the age of 12," and that "…Spanish has ranked the highest in choice among the foreign languages" being offered in U.S. public schools. However, I believe that making Spanish, or any other single foreign language mandatory would be a great mistake. We live in a much more multi-cultural world than just a Spanish/English one. We need to be diverse in our foreign language studies. Events can suddenly make one or more languages vitally important to U.S. interests. For example, at the moment, we have a great lack of U.S. citizens with linguistic skills in Middle Eastern languages and culture, much to our detriment.
Therefore, I do not agree with the article that the study of Spanish should be made mandatory in our school system, however, I would argue that the study of at least one foreign language should be required from elementary school through high school.. We ignore the study of foreign languages at our own peril.
Hablas Espanol? Why not?
The Kaleidoscope, AL - May 7, 2008
Among the languages offered to students, Spanish has ranked the highest in choice among the foreign languages. This shows that it is not a problem among the …
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Tags: Spanish, Spanish Language, foreign language, foreign languages
Immersion issue isn't fading
Times and Transcript, Canada - Mar 29, 2008
""Research says: if you want your children to be fully bilingual in New Brunswick (and learn other subjects as well) send them to a French-Language Daycare and a French-Language School.
In a subsequent newspaper article, Daniel Bourgeois, Executive Director of the Institute, while pointing to research on when young children best acquire another language was quoted as saying "Neuro-cognitive sciences tell us children will (best) learn the syntax, the grammar (and) the structure (of language) from age one to six. Yet here we are in …
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Tags: French, French language, immersion, French-language, French-language school, New Brunswick
C&G Newspapers |
Foreign languages open up new possibilities for students
C&G Newspapers, MI - Mar 12, 2008
"Foreign language classes at a younger age give students a better chance at learning and retaining the language, educators say. It’s also recommended today’s students learn a second language to prepare for careers in a global economy. The new high school state curriculum mandates that went into effect this year, in which students must have two world language credits, is another reason for promoting foreign languages. …
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By Shareen Aguilar
The romance languages of Europe, has familiar similarities to each of them. This is because the languages such as French, Italian, and Spanish all came from the mother language, Latin. This means that there are functions and words that are in relation with each other among the languages mentioned above.
If you already know portions of speaking French or Spanish (either of these languages), you are actually helping yourself in enriching your foreign language vocabulary. This is because when you start learning either of the romance languages, you are opening to chances of learning other European romance languages as well.
This doesn't mean though that starting to learn the Italian language doesn't require your complete understanding of the lessons. You still have to start from the simplest Italian language lesson to the difficult part. We all know how to obtain Italian lessons as well. An online course is one thing or taking a formal course from a university is also a good option.
If attending a complete full course of the subject does not appeal much to your busy schedule; try taking lessons that you can learn in a daily basis. Or better yet, take one Italian word each day. No need to worry in moving on to the next though, because the more you understand its meaning and purpose; the better you are able to use it with other Italian words.
Enriching yourself with more than one language is a great way of maintaining and putting your brain to constant work. If the Italian language is a completely new experience for you, so it is to your brain. For all you know, you are actually helping your brain maintains its efficiency by inputting new information to it everyday.
To help you remember the words more, try putting up posts of the lesson you have for one day around the house. This will clearly help you remember more the current lessons you're trying to learn.
About the Author: Shareen Aguilar is a writer for Learn Italian Program which has Memory Improvement Books and Memory Game Software for better Italian language memorization.
Students get head start in Spanish language Austin Herald, MN - March 13, 2008
A favorite class for some southgate Elementary first- and second-graders was not even available at this time last year. District integration funding has allowed students in all four elementary schools as well as Woodson Kindergarten the opportunity to learn basic Spanish language skills. … The goal of the [Foreign Language in the Elementary School] FLES program is to expose students to other languages at an earlier age, when they are more receptive to learning a second language. "Studies are showing the earlier you can learn a new language, the better,"… Read the full article, Students get head start in Spanish language
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Tags: Spanishlanguage, FLES, Spanish, learning a second language
The Rosetta Stone Spanish Language Program is offered in two versions, Latin American and Spain. The Latin American version is available in three levels and the Spain version is available in two levels.
Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1 
With over 3500 real-life images and phrases in 92 lessons, Spanish Level 1, Personal Edition provides up to 250 hours of mastery instruction in Listening Comprehension, Reading, Speaking, and Writing. Systematic structure teaches vocabulary and grammar naturally, without lists and drills. Previews, exercises and tests accompany every lesson with automated tutorials throughout the program. Level 1, Personal Edition provides instruction in such categories as People and Talking; Directions; Food, Eating and Drinking; Family Relationships; Telling Time; Numbers to One Hundred; Clothing and Dress; Vehicles, Furniture and Instruments; Shapes, Colors and Location; And Much More. Spanish Level 1, Personal Edition comes complete with an illustrated User's Guide and a Curriculum Text book.
Rosetta Stone Spanish (Latin America) Level 1
Available as CD-ROM and Online Subscription
Toni Roman's Video Review of Rosetta Stone Spanish 1
Spanish language learning products mentioned in the review of Rosetta Stone Spanish 1
Rosetta Stone Spanish 1
Learn Spanish Like Crazy
Pimsleur Spanish
Rosetta Stone Spanish 1 is complementary with either Learn Spanish Like Crazy or Pimsleur Spanish The Rosetta Stone program is visual while the others are audio. While the two audio programs will get you up and running quickly for spoken Spanish, the Rosetta Stone program will also teach you to read Spanish and has a feature built into the software to allow you to check your pronounciation.
Lawmakers want foreign languages
UW Badger Herald, WI - February 1, 2008
Wisconsin legislators introduced legislation Thursday that would create a world language instruction program for the state elementary schools.
With burgeoning globalization, the ability to communicate effectively with people from every corner of the world is no longer a mere convenience but an undeniable necessity, lawmakers said. …
Apart from the economic benefits foreign language instruction creates for the community, Patrick Gasper, communications officer for the Department of Public Instruction, said introducing children to foreign languages at a young age can have a more immediate and personal impact on their cognitive development.
“Younger students are able to learn faster and easier than adults, and students who study languages fare better in other subjects. …
More…Lawmakers want foreign languages
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Tags: language, languages, foreign languages
Howell parents set up Chinese classes
Lansing State Journal, MI - Jan 28, 2008
Parents of a Howell Public Schools fifth-grader have found a way to continue a Chinese language class that the district's curriculum committee canceled.
The ever-growing awareness of China as a global economic force has other Michigan school districts offering Chinese language and culture classes to their students.
Lansing, Van Buren, Traverse City, Berkley and Lamphere school districts have classrooms where students spend half the day learning in English and the other learning in Mandarin Chinese, officials said. …
More… Howell parents set up Chinese classes
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Tags: language, languages, foreign languages, Chinese, Chinese Language, Mandarin, Mandarin Chinese