Forward Thinking Parents Exposing Children To Foreign Language In Early Years


CHANGE: the world is changing .  Our planet is changing. As Americans... we want our future president to bring about change in our Government.  What about ourselves as individuals?  Can or should Americans get out of the frame of mind that the world revolves around us.   With respect to Foreign Language, should we rely on the fact that most other countries we interact with speak our language?   Technology is enabling other countries to catch up with us in so many ways.  Yet in many ways, we as Americans are not making the shift towards true global thinking. 

Our Government recognizes the need for our Country to teach and expose our children to other cultures and languages.  There are articles about Govenment initiatives that leaders have tried to implement on this subject for more than two decades.  Nothing of major significance has been implemented (except in the private sector and in small regional localities).   At least none that I have been able to locate in my research.  If you know of any, I would love to hear from you.

The rest of the world lives by this way of thinking.  We are so isolated, as a country.  Living in most any part of Europe, one is often only a few hours drive from another foreign Country with all its customs and language.  I suppose this makes it more natural or logical for them to learn about each other.  The resulting riches to these peoples is immeasureable and includes a global sophistication that many Americans lack. 
 
So, I hope to get a feel for Americans thoughts and impressions about the subject of teaching Foreign Language for our children.   I strongly believe in the importance of this topic.  Our children are enrolled at a French Immersion school, which they began September 2007.  This is the first step of many in which we hope will lead to a richer appreciation for this world and to give our children a competitive advantage in their futures.

I love this school!  On the first day, entering the grounds and hearing all the languages spoken by the parents, Bonjour, ca va, Oui ca va... Bonjour, Bonjour, I felt the thrill of an adventure, as if I were overseas. In my older daughters 1st grade class, the majority of the children in the classroom speak 3,4 and even 5 languages already.  My daughter is one of a few that is only starting her second.  English is the language that the children speak together on the playground.  The families are many diiferent combinations of American, French, British, Dutch, Perain, Italian etc.  Being able to expose the kids to so many cultures is very fulfilling. 
  
One day recently as I went to pick up my kindergartner a little early from her classroom, I heard a slightly loud chanting as I approached the door.  I opened the door not sure if I was interrupting...to see the kinder teacher with her arm raised high in the air, encouraging the children to join in the phrase "Viva le roi et la rheine"!!!  "Viva le roi et la rheine"!  She cheered (Long live the king and the queen)! Such passion is contagious!!  This was Roi de la Galette week.  A week where the school recognizes a french holiday where a special pastry type of cake is baked by all the people of the towns.  Inside is a little figurine and the lucky child who finds it gets to wear the crown.  It's the Galette des Rois.  The feast of Kings!  This type of activity is a regular thing in the Lycee. This is a full french immersion school where all instruction in the classroom is done in french (except for one hour per day of english) .  There is exposure to many cultures and customs and teaching is done from a global perspective. Overall it has been an incredible experience. I believe we put them into the school just before we missed the opportunity.  The school recommends getting the children in as young as possible - preschool age.  Learning a new Language at a young age is almost effortless as compared to learning languages as an adult.   We plan in the future to begin to learn Mandarin Chinese as a family at home, and continue all the way through at the Lycee.  
 

Posted by Kimberly at 6/10/2008 12:24 AM
Categories: uncategorized
 
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