tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post317185382641017175..comments2023-08-10T12:55:23.427+01:00Comments on SUBROSA: Will They Listen?subrosahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-64066452330120338912011-12-14T00:07:29.923+00:002011-12-14T00:07:29.923+00:00Exactly Woodsy. If a child can learn its native l...Exactly Woodsy. If a child can learn its native language it can learn any other. It's best to teach them when they are tiny. They soak it up like a sponge.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-23728167320679029912011-12-13T20:52:26.373+00:002011-12-13T20:52:26.373+00:00A friend's family where the mother was spanish...A friend's family where the mother was spanish and the dad english used both languages to talk to their children from the time their chidren were born. The children were happily bilingual and could switch instantly. There is no minimum age to learn another language.Woodsy42https://www.blogger.com/profile/12355671210161625647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-73934156901245954672011-12-13T11:22:21.323+00:002011-12-13T11:22:21.323+00:00Again I disagree Joe. If a child can speak their ...Again I disagree Joe. If a child can speak their native language enough to be understood, then they will be able to learn another. It's about the quality of teaching not the 'giftedness' of the child.<br /><br />But I do see your point and would suggest that's down to the quality of teaching.<br /><br />Scarce resources? Our children get more spent on them than most other civilised countries. Learning a foreign language can open up a whole new world to a youngster. It was the stepping stone to a very good career for myself for years.<br /><br />Ha, ha, very clever. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-84527177070628999192011-12-12T21:27:52.638+00:002011-12-12T21:27:52.638+00:00@ SR 20:08
"What evidence do you have that p...@ SR 20:08<br /><br />"What evidence do you have that primary pupils are too young to understand another language? None I expect. "<br /><br />I accept that I made a sweeping statement, and, some gifted Under-12s will be able to understand another language. <br /><br />However, when tens of thousands of even Secondary-school leavers have poor grasp of the English Language and grammar, it seems obvious that there are deficiencies 'somewhere' in the system. <br /><br />The point being, why devote scarce resources to teaching a second language, when everyone's not learnt the native language first?<br /><br />I can remember during the Cuban Missile Crisis, the point being made for the importance of teaching Russian. To which one wag responded that all he needed to know was "Мы сдаемся".Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-47088358525105938462011-12-12T20:08:43.985+00:002011-12-12T20:08:43.985+00:00Joe, glad to hear you've donned your flak jack...Joe, glad to hear you've donned your flak jacket because you'll get some flak from me too.<br /><br />Of course your first point is valid and standards aren't what they were 40 years ago, but that shouldn't deter our professionals from trying to improve.<br /><br />What evidence do you have that primary pupils are too young to understand another language? None I expect. For several years when my family was little, Fridays was German day. We didn't speak English at home then. After some years that tailed off because more independent interests became involved, yet 30+ years later they can still converse in German and, more importantly, are able to be mannerable in it too.<br /><br />I thought French was taught in Scotland because of the Auld Alliance but I'm happy to be corrected.<br /><br />It should have been Esperanto for Air Traffic Control. :)<br /><br />My neighbour rented these students a room on a private basis. She was also a teacher and therefore had prior connections. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-11192645725439285572011-12-12T19:53:55.519+00:002011-12-12T19:53:55.519+00:00Ah Rosie. School language-teaching - a subject abo...Ah Rosie. School language-teaching - a subject about which I have strong personal views.<br /><br />Mostly diametrically opposed to yours, I'm afraid.<br /><br />Not necessarily in order of priority, but:-<br /><br />1. When schools can't teach the 3 x 'R's to a high standard to every pupil, languages are a luxury the education system can't afford.<br /><br />2. Languages in Primary Schools? Like sex, the pupils are far too young to understand it. <br /><br />Of course I do have an opinion on the following article in todays Torygraph about primary schoolchildren to be taught what it is like to be transgender as part of plans to introduce “equality” lessons in to the classroom. It the 3-letter acronym WTF.<br /><br />http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/8944209/Schoolchildren-could-be-given-lessons-in-being-transgender.html<br /><br />3. I always thought French was the 'preferred' (starter) language because they were the closest foreigners (Well the were to those in the South East).<br /><br />4. Was it Jeremy Clarkson or a John Cleese character who subscribed to the ethos that shouting louder in English would compensate for not being arsed to learn a foreign language? <br /><br />5. If English is the accepted language for Air Traffic Control, then it should be good enough for other activities too.<br /><br />6. Your kindly neighbour who used to provide accommodation for a French speaking student would now be required to submit to a CRB check, provide umpteen references, agree to numerous Local Authority inspections, and probably submit 2 x DNA samples. [OK I lied about the last one] <br /><br />7. Are Gaelic & Welsh deemed 'foreign' languages? <br /><br />I've donned my flak jacket in anticipation of hostile responses from some of your readers.Joe Publichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07829909061904690380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-29502331110792176322011-12-12T15:59:05.337+00:002011-12-12T15:59:05.337+00:00Ah, I've witnessed some real fun with those wh...Ah, I've witnessed some real fun with those who don't speak a native language TT. The Swiss were great **** takers when English-only speakers attended meetings. Back in those days there were no translation services, it was expected people wishing to do business in a place understood the local language.<br /><br />I well remember being irritated by a rather pompous guest in a 5 star hotel in Germany. He had demanded a telephone book from the receptionist (who did speak some English). She was so angry at his lack of manners, she called me. He started to shout 'why must I explain to another little woman that I need a phone book' and further abuse followed.<br /><br />I let him rant for a good few minutes then told him in Germany that he was making a fool of himself. He didn't understand and set off again yelling about the lack of education in the country etc. By this time the whole lobby was tut tutting at his behaviour.<br /><br />He was about to turn and leave when I quietly walked up to him and said "If you had mentioned the word please your blood pressure would be far lower now".<br /><br />He stared in amazement. Then I took him into my office, gave him a phone book and explained that German for phone book was very similar to English. When he bristled at being a pompous oaf I reminded him that lack of language can be acceptable but lack of manners is not.<br /><br />Give him his due he bought the receptionist a beautiful bouquet next day with a note apologising and he left me a note saying he intended to learn German ( he had business interests there) through the Berlitz school. I received a Christmas card many months later and it was addressed and written in German. "To the wee Scotswoman who broadened my horizons" I think it said and he went on to say he was now taking Italian as his work was also taking him to the Sudtirol.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-80204238422922773872011-12-12T15:37:51.120+00:002011-12-12T15:37:51.120+00:00Dominance maybe Crinkly but of course Spanish is s...Dominance maybe Crinkly but of course Spanish is spoken by many more throughout the world.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-1319017345503905042011-12-12T15:36:57.657+00:002011-12-12T15:36:57.657+00:00I can't imagine either Sue as having languages...I can't imagine either Sue as having languages has expanded my private and personal life so much.<br /><br />Force-fed French - aye sounds rather like here. Although I've visited France on many occasions somehow I think the force-feeding left me with a slight disinterest.<br /><br />It shows I'm no linguist though. As you know computers baffle me. :)subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-5990206489454425572011-12-12T15:34:18.124+00:002011-12-12T15:34:18.124+00:00Glad to hear that mister_choos. Aberdeenshire mus...Glad to hear that mister_choos. Aberdeenshire must be one of the few.<br /><br />Why is it always French I wonder? I've often thought it would be better to teach wee ones Latin as it so easy to learn, then another language once Latin is understood.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-82350056857577653772011-12-12T13:26:20.763+00:002011-12-12T13:26:20.763+00:00Interesting post SB.
I've worked in a number ...Interesting post SB.<br /><br />I've worked in a number of European countries and I on,y speak English. I've sat in meetings and taken part in discussions which involved 4 or 5 other nationalities. We all spoke English. Some could speak more than one language but I never met anyone who couldn't speak them all. English was the common language. <br /><br />I'm sure that arrogance in language is still prevalent. I should have learned French, which was available at secondary school. Too many other things to do though. <br /><br />I also speak gibberish mind you. Does that count ?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-68334471361072742472011-12-12T11:15:16.574+00:002011-12-12T11:15:16.574+00:00It's a side effect of english being hypothicat...It's a side effect of english being hypothicated as the 'universal language'by reason of dominance. <br /><br />As usual the result of arrogance is ignorance of value and only measured by price.Crinkly & Ragged Arsed Philosophershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08902364411241935656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-29807786493636283052011-12-12T11:11:23.852+00:002011-12-12T11:11:23.852+00:00I have been incredibly lucky. My dad met my mum wh...I have been incredibly lucky. My dad met my mum while he was stationed in Germany, so I was brought up bilingual (half my family couldn't speak a word of English). <br /><br />Six years of being force-fed French in Grammar School and now living here in Spain has made me multi-lingual.<br /><br />I can't ever imagine not being able to speak another language. Other than the fact that it's almost a necessity in this "global" (I'm beginning to hate that word) society, it's great brain-training.<br /><br />It's probably what led me into learning various computer languages which have given me a decent living all my working life.Suehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07165615283953837706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-17983486407438175162011-12-12T10:32:17.394+00:002011-12-12T10:32:17.394+00:00My kids do French in their primary in Aberdeenshir...My kids do French in their primary in Aberdeenshire. They don't have any French students there though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-17072704598152432462011-12-12T10:05:53.717+00:002011-12-12T10:05:53.717+00:00It seems the Scottish government are rather embarr...It seems the Scottish government are rather embarrassed about this Maverick as they had something in their manifesto about radically increasing foreign languages.<br /><br />A basic understanding of a foreign language and music is surely a must for all children.subrosahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00151702590329788260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8116690042850060767.post-26339317949625149042011-12-12T09:44:53.007+00:002011-12-12T09:44:53.007+00:00Spot on .... but I doubt they teach spelling in se...Spot on .... but I doubt they teach spelling in secondary school these days; let alone grammar !!!Maverickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14033959207017710565noreply@blogger.com