Mindy

My mom and dad sent my brother and I to French school from age 4, and they don't speak French AT ALL. Most people thought they were crazy. Told my mom we would never learn cuz we have never heard it. I don't even remember learning, but I am totally bilingual.

I would agree it's very very much harder to learn when you are older. It's harder to get the accent down. Then again, some people just never get the hang of the accents.

Good luck in whatever you do Xero. I just can't get over the cuteness of your little man. He looks so much like you too

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"Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit.”

Dr. Erik Erikson

Dadu2004

French School? Ooohhh La La!

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Mindy

Yup, and you should have seen my parents struggle with my homework!

Anyway, so I speak English and French fluently, and I can carry a conversation in Spanish as well. We learn Spanish at work during my lunch hour. It's free training so why not! And this is in Canada it's offered!

I think if you can speak French English and Spanish, man, you are pretty well set. You can go almost anywhere in the world and be understood by someone... Cept maybe China

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"Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit.”

Dr. Erik Erikson

Mindy

Cantonese or Mandarin?

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"Someday, maybe, there will exist a well-informed, well considered and yet fervent public conviction that the most deadly of all possible sins is the mutilation of a child’s spirit.”

Dr. Erik Erikson

Xero

Well don't worry, cause they make Spanish mandatory now in elementary school so he's gonna learn whether I like it or not. I'm sure he'll pick up quick and probably enjoy it.

Haha and thank you so much for saying he's cute. A lot of people have been saying that he looks like me. When he was littler, he looked more like his dad. It's funny how that can change. I've got to find my USB cord for my camera and show some more cute pictures of him. He's so feminine looking... even in boy clothes, people are not sure if he's a girl sometimes. I absolutely cannot get away with wearing neutral colors on him without him looking completely like a girl. It makes me laugh. At least I know he's pretty. <333

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budnkota

that was a response to a comment you made - that if you wanted him to speak another language, you'd have him live in another country. My point was simply that English became the language because of the influx of people, not because of some divine intervention or something...

Xero

Ah, well I guess I meant there that if I wanted it to be necessary for him to have to speak one. Sorry.

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chic

Hi I copy that. Bi-lingual education is important for the child not the adult. Take it in perspective. It is for the child.
- Opportunities
- His sense of dignity as a member of the human society
- His freedom of movement (language can bring him to places)
- His unbiased treatment and outlook towards the world and other races

To support the child in a bilingual programme, you must have the resource and capability to provide the child with the proper environment, guide and continued support.

The benefits outweigh the negatives; yet once decided, we should help the child through his entire process.

Cheers
Tips To Choose A Non-Native Language For Your Child

Trina

Spanish, or any other language for that matter, is not mandatory in the schools in my area. High school kids preparing for college must take a language, but other than that, it's completely voluntary.

I agree learning another language is beneficial, but I don't think it's a requirement.

Ben Smalley

Learning is so much easier at a young age, but you should stay with it. I started in school and I stopped when I went to college. I have to work even harder now to learn what I have lost.