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11/12/2018

Learning a second language can be beneficial in so many ways. It expands one’s job opportunities, makes communicating with more people easier, it has nothing but positive effects on the mind, and research has even gone far enough to conclude that it prevents age-related cognitive decline. Brain scans have proven that bilingual people have more gray matter in brain areas involving executive brain function which means that bilingual people are not only more efficient in language processing but they are also more efficient at basic tasks. Studies of thousands of high schoolers have shown that students that knew a foreign language, on average, performed better on the ACT than monolingual students. Some have suspected that learning a foreign language at a young age might confuse a child but in reality, the research points to the opposite. Bilingual children perform better in their first language than monolingual children.

Of course, it is not easy to acquire knowledge of a foreign language. Especially after the communication part of the brain is almost completely developed. The easiest and most effective way to learn a foreign language is to be exposed to it as young as possible. Babies are said to be the “sponges” for learning language and children ages 7 to 8 also have a much greater ability to learn and retain a language. The ability to become fluent in a foreign language declines over time, especially after puberty.

With that and all of the benefits in mind, should children be required to take a foreign language early on in school? Some would argue that they should get to choose but if they get to choose that, why do they not have a say in other classes like math or PE? Personally, I think that I would have benefited from learning a foreign language even though younger me most definitely would not have wanted to. I did not want to learn math or English either but it sure helped to have that information later in my life.
https://www.pandatree.com/reason_foreign_language

42 Comments

Kelsey

11/17/2018 08:33:49 pm

I have always thought that America should focus on learning a second language. I have always felt my education has been hindered compared to other countries for not having this opportunity at a young age. Furthermore, what does this say about our country? Why do other countries take the initiative to learn our language, but we do not bother to learn theirs? This kind of gives us the persona of being egocentric. In addition, learning a second language has many mental benefits, and it can lead to job opportunities that a person other wise would not have. This should not a be a decision for the student or parent to make, it should be a requirement in our education system. There should be one language, probably French or Spanish, that every kid learns in primary school, and then more language options in secondary school depending on the school's funding and focus. This would be similar to schools in Canada that have programs called French immersion. We would have either Spanish or French immersion where the students would learn the language and then use the second language as their communication in all classes, not just language class.

Sadie

11/18/2018 03:07:19 pm

We are very much different from other countries, education wise and even how we think of ourselves. I guess they just got off to a better start when schooling became mandatory for everyone. We failed to teach the older generation and now they cannot effectively teach us.

Brooke

11/18/2018 04:23:16 pm

Why is it not a requirement to learn a second? I cannot think of a good reason, save for the fact that there may not be a surplus of teachers who know that specific language well enough to teach. (Even more reason to educate more tongues) But that obstacle could be easily maneuvered. You also bring up a good point; many countries learn our language, can we not reciprocate? It would be beneficial to all.

Bailey

11/19/2018 12:24:30 pm

I don't think it should be required, but it should be an opportunity. If there is going to be required language classes in school, it should be a language that is beneficial to our country. Not Spanish or French. ASL would be a good language to learn.

Sadie

11/18/2018 03:01:03 pm

I, personally, would have absolutely loved to have grown up with a second language. Spanish is not at the top of my list, but I can't imagine US schools teaching any other language to all students. Also, it is hard to learn a language that your parents don't already speak. Bilingual people commonly learn from their parents. I babysat two Amish boys for a day last summer--Jaden, who was eight, and Ethan, who was 6. They could (Ethan almost) fluently speak English, Dutch, and German. Jaden could even read English well too and German no doubt. It was so impressive. Their heritage had given them the opportunity to know all those languages because of parent teachings. Unfortunately, not many of us have bilingual parents and cannot effectively learn a second or even third language from childhood. Recently, kids in the US have been forced to go to school at a younger age and read and write earlier than in the past. This already confuses young students and it is straining them to their limits. Forcing a second language at this point does not seem reasonable to me. We should provide more opportunities for students (adults even) to learn more languages. We need to make it into a trend and then maybe more parents will be able to teach their children. Then, MAYBE, it can be introduced into US schooling.

Brooke

11/18/2018 04:32:13 pm

When we went to Europe, Sami and I met a group of guys our age in Italy--they spoke French (lived in Paris, France), had learned the basics of English, and were currently doing a worksheet on Italian as well as Spanish. Imagine if we had a multilingual policy such as theirs? How much bigger the world would be. We should definitely begin to catch up with the other countries on the subject of languages. Perhaps we could have more kids like Jaden and Ethan.

Jesse B.

11/18/2018 06:19:21 pm

The Amish are incredible people and that does not surprise that those boys could do that. It is interesting that you say that children in the United States are already being pushed enough with starting as early as they are. I do like your idea for providing more opportunities for everyone, not just young people, to learn a new language. It would be in the best interest of the government since a more educated population is potential for greater money and global trade. If you were to institute a nation-wide language class, what age would you start at?

Sariah

11/18/2018 03:12:04 pm

I am a strong believer in children learning a second or maybe even third language. It has always been something, now that I am older, I have regretted not having the opportunity to do as a child. I believe as a whole it would benefit our futures country especially because we are so diverse. We could have classes that speak completely in Spanish and some completely in English to immerse the children in the language and make it easier for them to learn. I think it would also help in unifying the world. Maybe not drastically but language is a barrier and this could be a step towards taking it away.

Rachel

11/18/2018 05:45:01 pm

I agree that becoming multilingual could unify the world. Do you plan on trying to learn a new language in the future? If so, which one?

Katherine

11/18/2018 05:52:08 pm

I think some countries have immersion programs where they learn a language as students get older? I wish I would’ve had the opportunity growing up to learn a language as well. Yes, I took the two years of Spanish but I wish I had more of an opportunity to further that education.

Mckinlee

11/18/2018 07:11:24 pm

I love the thought of unifying the world like this. I never considered that and I think that you’re right! I think that complete immersion in the classroom is great idea. What classes do you suppose should be in English and which in Spanish?

Brooke

11/18/2018 04:17:45 pm

Language is a gateway into understanding more of the world, so why would we not want to learn more? By gaining the knowledge of a certain culture's language, we would also learn more about their way of life. Ultimately, our understanding of the world would be greatly advanced, and think of the national problems we could solve if only we understood each other! I wonder why it is not a requirement to learn more than only the native language. I believe we should incorporate a multilingual system in schools as a core class. A myriad of languages are being lost, such as the Native American tongue, or even Latin. By teaching kids to learn another way of speaking, those languages would begin to make a comeback, along with its history. We are only skimming the surface of our potential with a monolingual society.

Saylor

11/18/2018 05:29:59 pm

For it to become a core class is a really good idea. For all of the lost languages to come back would be spectacular for history as you said. And everyone would benefit from taking these classes

Rachel

11/18/2018 05:43:54 pm

I agree that we are only skimming the surface. We have become lazy because all other countries have accepted english as a fairly universal language, which makes it easy for us. But why should we settle? I love the idea of making languages a core class.

Sariah

11/18/2018 09:40:10 pm

I agree that learning more languages would not only further our intelligence in itself but also through being able to study other cultures and people. The knowledge we could gain would increase incredibly. Knowledge is power isn’t it?

Saylor

11/18/2018 05:28:59 pm

Learning a new language is very difficult. Being required to learn it at a young age would make it basically muscle memory for us. Having the opportunity to learn another language at a young age would benefit everyone.

Katherine

11/18/2018 05:53:22 pm

Learning a new language while still young is one of the best opportunities offered. Information is retained so much better and it is easier to ebcome fluent v

Katarina

11/18/2018 07:21:44 pm

I think it would be a great opportunity and more schools should monopolize on it.

Rachel

11/18/2018 05:40:06 pm

Learning a second language is very beneficial for students of all ages. There is so much scientific proof that being bilingual improves testing scores and improves cognitive functioning in general. I wish that I had been able to grow up learning a second language because not only would it have improved my education, it also would have allowed me to connect with more people. I think that there is something special about being able to communicate in a common tongue even if people are from different countries. There was a little girl (named Rachel actually) who I met when I went to Haiti, and she was almost fluent in English, French, and Haitian Creole, because she had grown up learning all three in school. Because of her understanding of English, we were able to communicate and she tried to teach me some Creole as well! The relationships that can be formed from knowing multiple languages are well worth the time and effort required to learn them, and I think that all children should grow up with the opportunity.

Sariah

11/18/2018 09:42:42 pm

I think it is funny how idiotic honestly (or maybe just lazy) people are. There are studies after studies of things that are good for us and things that are not, proven through research, that people ignore completely. Why do you think people ignore such clear knowledge? I mean it is something that would better them as a person. So what inside a human is what drives that emotion in us.

Katherine

11/18/2018 05:47:05 pm

I think that it would benefit America to integrate it into a mandatory class. When I went to Carmen, we had to alternate typing and learning Spanish every day. We used Rosetta Stone and as a third grader I hated it so much. I think if there were a more fun alternative to that, I would have been able to learn more. I do remember almost everything that I learned from that though, proving the point that it’s beneficial to learn it young. Speaking multiple languages is such a great opportunity because it opens many outlets to the world. There’s more jobs, foreign exchange, brain benefits and more.

Sadie

11/18/2018 06:01:11 pm

My method for Rosetta Stone was just roughly matching key words with the pictures. I didn't get it all and I just did it over and over again until l could kinda sorta match words with the pictures even though I didn't know what it was trying to say. I sucked at it and I would much rather learn a different language.

Jesse B.

11/18/2018 06:26:56 pm

Those days at the Carmen were something, but not everyone hated doing Rosetta Stone. I wish I could remember all that I did on that program though. The point is that Carmen started us at a good age, but the Rosetta Stone software needed to be more child-friendly so that more kids would have enjoyed doing the work. Is there another software that you know of that would be better at teaching children how to speak another language or would you choose a real teacher instead?

McKinlee

11/18/2018 07:13:29 pm

I did not know the Carmen school did that! That’s pretty cool. What is another way they could’ve taught you that would’ve been more interesting and fun?

Saylor

11/18/2018 07:32:35 pm

Carmen is a great example. When I lived in Texas there was foreign languages offered for almost all grades. Most parents put together all of the class schedules for their kids so all kids were in a language class. It wasn't mandatory or a cure class but the parents had their kids in the classes.

Conrad

11/18/2018 08:00:14 pm

It does look excellent on resumes, not only for the extra skill but also the diversity and cultural awareness that it brings.

Jazz

11/18/2018 08:10:11 pm

Do you think that it would have benefited you more to have the class every day, or did that method work? Do you think all schools should have a system similar to that?

Jesse B.

11/18/2018 06:09:14 pm

Since a young age, I have been exposed to different languages (mainly Spanish). Even though I cannot fluently speak any others besides English, I can understand a small amount. My experience has been invaluable in many situations such as when I went to Mexico and Spain. With that, I firmly believe that a mandatory foreign language class should be instituted in schools across the country. My reasons for this are that it can open up many job opportunities, make the understanding of different cultures easier, and it expands the potential for interactions. Also, if these classes were started at an early age, like in grade school, the language would be more likely to stick with the children since their brains are still developing and they take in information easier than older people. Do not let the opportunity for growth slip away from the children.

Conrad

11/18/2018 07:58:52 pm

One of my biggest regrets is how my Spanish keeps disappearing slowly. I think it would have been much better had I started at a much younger age.

Mckinlee

11/18/2018 07:08:47 pm

I believe that a secondary language should be required for children to learn. I see nothing but benefits. I would have loved to know a second language and it is unfortunate that most schools do not even have the option for a student to start learning from a young age.

Katarina

11/18/2018 07:20:59 pm

I agree. I think every school should have the opportunity.

Katarina

11/18/2018 07:20:25 pm

I don’t think it should be required but I do think the parents should have a say. I agree that it is benefiting but some kids have a hard enough time making it through basic elementary school. Let alone another language. If it going to be required though I think starting young would be people’s best bet. I know I would have benefited from learning another language when I was younger more than I would now. Let’s be honest some people just get more stupid with time. Having that skill early on may help that.

Jazz

11/18/2018 08:05:51 pm

Should learning a foreign language be required up until a certain age or grade level, or should it be required all throughout elementary, middle, and high school? Should certain languages be more prioritizes over others or should any language be accepted in the classes?

Kenna

11/18/2018 10:12:08 pm

The younger they learn the better in my opinion. If it's not a required class it should be highly recommended.

Conrad

11/18/2018 07:45:38 pm

I think having a foreign language required during the younger years of schooling is beneficial and will improve one's life after school. It helps peak brain usage, a very important part of life. It creates diversity and knowledge in other cultures, which betters one as a person. In addition to all this, its really cool to visit another country and be able to speak the language, or be able to speak in "code" in front of your friends.

Kelsey

11/19/2018 08:09:40 am

Yeah, I have always wished I could just start speaking in another language. Also, that is a good point about improving diversity, this would be very beneficial to diversify culture.

Jazz

11/18/2018 08:01:20 pm

I think taking foreign language classes in elementary school should be required. Foreign languages should be treated as core classes, just like math and history because they play an equally sized part in many of today's jobs. It is significantly easier for younger children to learn languages, so it makes sense to give them the opportunity to learn it while it is easier for them instead of throwing them into it during high school. Foreign languages should highly recommended in high school but not required if they are required in elementary and middle school. Knowing a foreign languages is an extremely useful and important skill to have in the world today. The job market is growing increasingly competitive and having a few languages under your belt can give you a step up in many careers.

Kenna

11/18/2018 10:01:56 pm

I agree. Foreign languages should be treated as core classes. I definitely wish I would have learned a second language when I was younger.

Kenna

11/18/2018 09:56:54 pm

We should be learning a second language if not for the mental benefits, then the job opportunities. The job market is becoming more and more competitive any chance to up your chances of being hired should be done. Learning a second language will help you get hired and give mental benefits. What's not to support about it?

Kelsey

11/19/2018 08:03:39 am

I agree, people are travelling a lot more in this day and age so knowing a second language is definitely important.

Bailey

11/19/2018 12:21:18 pm

I agree that it is beneficial for job opportunities, but shouldn't be required in schools. It should be an optional class, or learning opportunity, and not a class that you need to graduate.

Bailey

11/19/2018 12:18:22 pm

I believe that learning a second language would be beneficial, but shouldn't be required. The first language of American citizens is English, and everyone who comes here should learn English. If children want to take a second language in school, they should have the choice to. I did not have a choice, and didn't want to take a second language. I believe that we should have the opportunity to learn beneficial languages, like ASL, as opposed to being required to take Spanish or French.

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