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Discussion Boards => Off-Topic => Topic started by: MommaCollins on September 12, 2011, 05:55:55 pm
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My 4yr old daughter is in Pre School in a Public school, She attended a private head start program last year. When she was in Head Start she learned to count to 10, sing her ABC's and learned her primary colors. It was amazing what she learned especially since she had never been to a social setting like that before. She started to share with others more and her social skills were excellent. Now, that she has transferred to the Pre-K class at the local public school I have feel that her skills have been tainted. All summer i would ask her to Count to 10 even got her to count to 20 at times with assistance and she did great, Now when i ask her She starts off in SPANISH not ENGLISH :BangHead: I am furious! I live in America I expect for her to learn a Spanish/french or something in high school or possibly middle school but PRE-SCHOOL really is it necessary?
What is your opinion on this matter? Please don't take this as racism I am okay with her learning another language just not so early when she barley can use proper English at this age.
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Language is best learned young because it is easier to learn it actually. Young kids who learn a different language are better in the long run because they retain the information longer and understand it better than people who learn it in HS.
Take this, I took 4 years of Spanish in HS. I am now 4 years out of HS; and the only thing I remember are the very basics of the language. A lot of schools offer it now at younger ages because it's simply easier for a 2 year old to learn Spanish, than it is for a 12 year old.
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I think it is a way of the times and it is better to get as much language skills as possible. I live in Southern California and the fact of the matter is that the state is almost half hispanic and one should get as much education as possible regardless of what type.
I love this country and think we can all work together to exchange skills, languages, and cultures. You need to encourage your grandkids to excel in all available aspects of what is available
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english, we live in america
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This is America and our language is English. I would expect English to be taught as the primary language!!!!!! If I lived in another country I would expect that I would learn their primary language.
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It is true that it is easier to learn another language when very young but we live in the USA and English is the primary language. Little kids need to learn English first. If it's more difficult to learn Spanish in high school, so be it. English should come first.
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Okay guys, obviously she's learning English at school. But maybe Spanish is her last class or they go over it just a bit more than English since it's harder to learn a new language. Besides English isn't the national language of america. There is NO national language. Also, children learn what they hear the most. So as long as her mom speaks English at home as her primary language she'll be okay.
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Be thankful she is leaning it early. The sooner the better. Students that learn another language early have advantages over students who don't learn it early. Sure this is America but if you haven't noticed America is changing whether you like it or not. Hispanics will be the dominant group in the decades to come. In 30 years Spanish might be the "unofficial, official language" in the US. Adapt or die.
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Thank you all for the replies. I do know that it is easier to learn a language at a younger age, but I am still an American as in my child and we should know how to speak write and understand our native language before we learn a foreign one. I would like for her to learn a second language after she can speak proper English.
Also I have now talked to her teacher and learned that they are not teaching her in school. I allow her to watch dora so this is at fault of my own for letting her watch that show but it is her favorite and she is learning. My mind is now set at ease and I still like the opinions that were given here. Thank You again.
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I think its great that they are teaching spanish. it is so hard to learn a new language. Best at a young age to learn. More opportunities as bi lingual
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english should be the primary lang.
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there is nothing wrong with her learning another language at this age. It is better to learn another language at an early age because it is easier. Whatever skills she is being taught in spanish she will be able to transfer over to the english language. the education system in other countries makes students learn another language at an early age they dont wait until students reach high school.
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I can see you thinking why not english but this is the age she will absorb the language and the best time she will learn english for sure living in america so do not worry about that but this is REALLY the best time for another language but i can see you thinking she needs to learn english but this is really good when i have kids they are learning another language as a child not sure what language yet but there will be one BE GREATFUL SERIOUSLY not trying to be mean
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I understand your concerns about this language issue.I think that American children should be taught the country's language first but they should also start learning other languages at an early age & not just Spanish multiple lang. The US is a melting pot of different cultures & English is not the only lang spoken.Please get w/her teachers & find out exactly what the educational criteria is in her school.I also suggest that you bend a little & try 2learn a little spanish w/ur child.Children that r bilingual do better in school,have higher IQ's than other children that lack this skill.Very
young kids r like sponges,they absorb everything.Kids aren't afraid 2learn new things b/c 2them it's a game.To the older student or adult it's work & hard.If you look at foreign kids & students esp. Asians they usually have 3 to 5 languages under belt.English is always stressed as an important language to learn in Asian countries b/c they deai w/US people in their businesses & many areas.Learning 2 languages is nothing compared 2what Asian kids learn b/c they do not live in 1 nation.If you're Korean,u have 2know ur neighbor's language 2.So,the poor kid b4 he reaches his teens should've under his belt,langs of Korean,Ti,Japanese,Chinese,English,Tagalog,Arabic,etc.So,yes monitor what your kid learns but make sure it's for right reasons & that it will give her the advantages later in life.I'm passionate a/o languages b/c my own parents wanted me 2b Americanize & learn English.I never really learned my own native language & when I visit relatives I feel like an outsider.My parents gave me a disadvantage by never teaching me my own language! :crybaby2:
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I think she's fortunate to be learning at this early age. Look at kids in other countries - most of them can speak multiple languages. I keep wanting to get around to teaching myself a second language, preferably Spanish, but I keep putting it off. The younger you are, the easier it is to learn. Also, there are a lot of jobs where they give preference to a bi-lingual candidate. Learning early is giving her a competitive edge for later years, as well as the cultural benefit.
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It is true that a person can learn a different language quicker and retain it longer if taught at an early age (before the mind gets cluttered with useless stuff). I think a lot of people have a negative reaction to children being taught Spanish in primary school because of the rampant immigration issue. I do, however, see a problem with making it mandatory that Spanish be taught in schools to accommodate the immigration problems. American English should be the primary language taught first and foremost. The education of American children should not be sacrificed to cater to non-Americans.
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I believe English should come first. I was surprised to learn that this country does not have an official language. I would like English be made the official language for starters. And I think the more languages the children the better, but English should come first!
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Im sure that they aren't teaching her ONLY spanish. It would be both. And, actually the younger they are when they learn a new language the easier it is. She will get used to it. Now a days parents think they're kids are being "over worked" or pushed to hard, when the reality is, The harder you push them the more they can handle. I think its great they want to teach an other language so early on, AS LONG as they don't skimp out on the english. :)
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I think your daughter should have both subjects. I think your school is getting your daughter ready for the future. America will have more Spanish speaking people in twenty or thirty years.
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In my area that is an emerging program that teaches the kids 1/2 day in Spanish and 1/2 day in English, but you have to agree to it or your kid does not get in the program, I think is wonderful that kids learn a 2nd language as long as the parents are OK with it.
I speak both languages, and my girls can understand both languages perfectly, their preference when speaking is English, since is the language the use most often, but they understand Spanish without any problems, and I am having problems with the school, since they want to give ESOL classes to my youngest daughter (MS student) only because of the Spanish last name, and the fact that I have an accent, my daughter can speak, read, write and understand English perfectly and it is her prefer language, Spanish is just something she knows because of us.
The school has actually made it very hard for my daughter and have dropped some of her elective classes to force her to take English as a Second language, I have had a fight in my hands. She is a A thru C student and does not deserve to be mark as an Immigrant just for have parents that are. My girls are born and raise in the US, as a matter of fact I was born in the US as well, but my dear mom took me back to her country when my parents split and I grew up there, and my husband has been a citizen for more than 15 years now, but the system wants to penalize my girl just for having an Spanish last name.
so you see we are on the oposite side of the bar here. I do not mind my girls being teach the language, which they already understand, but I do not think that anybody should be force to go that way just because is what they want to do.
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I fully support learning a language at an early age. It helps with developing the skills needed to learn all through life. Spanish is the language she will most exposed to so it makes sense to teach this. It also helps with their English language development as there are nuances applicable to both.
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Be thankful she is leaning it early. The sooner the better. Students that learn another language early have advantages over students who don't learn it early. Sure this is America but if you haven't noticed America is changing whether you like it or not. Hispanics will be the dominant group in the decades to come. In 30 years Spanish might be the "unofficial, official language" in the US. Adapt or die.
If I wanted to live in a Hispanic country I'd move to Mexico. This is supposed to be the United States, and if Mexicans or other Hispanics want to move here they should become Americans and learn our language. Why do they come here if they don't want to be Americans? Let them stay in their own countries and speak Spanish. I refuse to lose my culture to adapt theirs. They are the ones moving here, so they are the ones that should adapt. And no, I won't adapt or die.
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If I wanted to live in a Hispanic country I'd move to Mexico. This is supposed to be the United States, and if Mexicans or other Hispanics want to move here they should become Americans and learn our language. Why do they come here if they don't want to be Americans? Let them stay in their own countries and speak Spanish. I refuse to lose my culture to adapt theirs. They are the ones moving here, so they are the ones that should adapt. And no, I won't adapt or die.
Do you think Native American's felt the same?
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::)I think learning another language is a choice ( unless you live in that country then it might become a requirement). If you feel so badly about your country to the point that you actually leave it then I think the requirement to learn the language becomes yours, why leave Mexico to come to America to live like you are still in Mexico? I think the accomadation should be thiers and not the kids who were born here.
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I would go to the School and get the superintendents number. Contact her or him. Speak with the superintendent personally or set up a meeting with
that person right away. Don,t wait. English is the First language. This is not Spain. This is absolutely craziness. I am upset at hearing about this. And the guy that said it,s the times we live in is just not that into the times we live in.
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Not all Spanish speaking people are MEXICANS. I agree that if you move to a country other than yours, you should learn their language. But it offends me greatly than all spanish speakings are considered Mexicans, I am not and will never be MExican and I proudly speak Spanish. And let me tell you all something, the Central America country I come from the Americans refuse to sepak Spanish and demanded that we speak to them on their language, which is not the official language of the country.
People just be careful and remember that Mexico is not the only Spanish Speaking Country in the world, as a matter of fact is 1 of about 25 countries where spanish is the main language. Just though to clarufy, because it really makes mad that I will be considered Mexican when I am far from them.
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At first I was upset by your original post; I'm glad that it is just a show she's watching and not the school forcing the language without parental notification.
I do think learning a new language is important, and it is easier to learn at a younger age than when you're older. I wouldn't have even batted an eye if the school was trying to introduce a language course as early as Kindergarten; I remember Sesame Street would sometimes introduce Spanish words in some of their skits.
What I would be opposed to would be if the school taught in Spanish as the primary language, or taught both English and Spanish at the same time, esp. if the parents were not notified of this policy nor had the choice to opt out of this. Although there is no national language, most Americans speak English, and so to force children to learn some different language, esp without any parental involvement, would be like a slap in the face against the family's culture. The reason why there is no national language is because we respect our freedoms, one of those being what and how our children are taught. Unless the school was in a heavily Hispanic neighborhood, having the school teach primarily in Spanish could be taken as an infringement on our rights to have our children learn English as the primary language.
I would also be a little upset if Spanish was the only 2nd language that was taught. Although there is a major influx of Hispanics into this country, it is not true that it is the best 2nd language to learn. If you live in the north or midwest, you may not have such a large population of Hispanics as you do in the bordering southern states. In fact a few years ago, the Hmong community was the largest immigrant community to our state, so at least for us it may be more important to learn their language. English is the language in business, but if parents are expecting their children to actually do something in the world markets, then other languages may be important: perhaps German for engineering, or Japanese for technology. Or since Mandarin is spoken by the most number of people (as their primary language), perhaps it would be best to teach that language.
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While it is true that other languages are best learned at a young age. I would be worried if my child was favoring a different language over English, especially if that is you her mothers first language.
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I THINK BOTH LANGAGES R GOOD.... I KNO 3 LANGUAGES. SO I THINK ITS GOOD SHE MIGHT HAVE FRIENDS THAT DNT SPEAK ENGLISH :thumbsup:
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Yes it is necessary. i went to a school similar to that one and I learned enough spanish in elementary school to exempt out of the two spanish classes I needed. It gets harder to learn the older they get.
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It's a huge benefit in the workplace to be bilingual. It could be very useful as she gets older. I would love my kids to learn other languages at such a young age.
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I would find a different school.... If knowing multiple languages is so good why are so many in school in special ed to learn english that is the situation here anyway
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I agree with you 100%. My daughter is in Middle school and they already have her taking Spanish. Now it is a requirement to graduate, where as when I was in school it was an elective. This is America, and everyone should be speaking English here. When we go to other countries they expect us to know there language. If you want to be here, then speak English. And also, bring our God back. If your offended then go back to where you came from. This country was founded on God's word, it should certainly stay that way.
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:-X I almost slapped your face.... thank God it's not Racist.
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I can see why you may be a little frustrated. However, you have to research the school you plan on sending your child to learn. Secondly, I think that it's OK for them to teach her Spanish but just like you said--they should at least cover the basics of teaching her English first. This country is transforming into a very diversified melting pot and Hispanics are the majority minority which makes it somewhat of a necessity to learn Spanish during this time and age. If you don't plan on transferring her to another school you may have to just do some extra work on your part at home to ensure that she develops the way she needs to. Just my opinion but I truly hope everything works out and you get the results that you intend and anticipate once you take some type of stance or strategic approach to this dilemma.
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Right there with you Momma collins! Any where you call that has a chainmail system of answering a phone takes twice as long as you have to listen to a second set of instrucations in spanish. I think that Rick Perry's presidential hopes have been dashed because he believes that our country/his state should foot the bill for the children of illegal immigrants. America is english speaking first and anyone moving here needs to learn our language. I speak spanish and my children speak chinese but we are in great command of english...first!
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another language should be taught at a young age but it shouldnt take over english
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english unless ur of spanish decent or if that a languge is more spoken at home. Growing up in america ur going to be around more english
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This is America and our language is English. I would expect English to be taught as the primary language!
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this is the best time for them to learn a language. they learn it better. it is best to learn multiple languages now a days especially depending on where in the country you live. i live in florida so there are actually some places where you cant even get away with not speaking spanish. and she is gonna have to learn a language in high school anyways so its best if she starts now. just let her know that spanish is for school and english is for home.
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Infuriating. We are falling further and further behind in all areas of education and the 'educators' are teaching a relatively useless language to our kids. Business is conducted in English at an international level. Why aren't we focusing on mathematics, business, and American history/civics? As parents we are fighting a losing battle. I refused to put my kids in public school because of garbage like this.
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And also, bring our God back.
According to the fundies, that mythical being never left, (unless you're suggesting that "it" stepped out while Spanish was being taught in schools).
If your offended then go back to where you came from. This country was founded on God's word, it should certainly stay that way.
While your bigotry is offensive on more than one level, this country was _not_ "founded on god's word". It was "founded" by taking land away from people who took land away from other people, (who wandered over from where they came from).
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My 4yr old daughter is in Pre School in a Public school, She attended a private head start program last year. When she was in Head Start she learned to count to 10, sing her ABC's and learned her primary colors. It was amazing what she learned especially since she had never been to a social setting like that before. She started to share with others more and her social skills were excellent. Now, that she has transferred to the Pre-K class at the local public school I have feel that her skills have been tainted. All summer i would ask her to Count to 10 even got her to count to 20 at times with assistance and she did great, Now when i ask her She starts off in SPANISH not ENGLISH :BangHead: I am furious! I live in America I expect for her to learn a Spanish/french or something in high school or possibly middle school but PRE-SCHOOL really is it necessary?
What is your opinion on this matter? Please don't take this as racism I am okay with her learning another language just not so early when she barley can use proper English at this age.
I agree. I think learning another language should be a high school elective.
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It is really important to start early if you want your child to really learn a second language. No matter how hard they try later in life it will be more difficult if they didn't learn another language from an early age. Of course if your child is getting confused with using the languages it may be good to wait a little while longer before introducing another language. However learning Spanish will no doubt be an asset even while living the the US. Many jobs require a second language proficiency that is much more difficult to develop later in life in order to get the job you want. I really wish I could have learned another language when I was younger since I don't remember much from my 5 years of German.
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English should be the most important language for a pre schooler to learn!!
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I'm not sure if this is THE most racist thread I have seen on this forum, or the second most racist thread. The one I am deciding between was a thread on evolution which had the OP say "I'm not racist, but African men look like Apes"
'MERCA talk like us or leev!
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I don't mind the young ones learning to speak spainish, but i don't want the spainish youngesters thinks this is the way it will be, and they want have to learn english. So first learn english and then go for another language. So many other languages are out there for our kids to learn why must it always be spainish. It is not out national language. I have a hard time when i get on the phone and it comes hit 1-2 for english. why do we single them out as getting special treatment. Let them learn english just like all the otm's ( other then mexicans)
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I don't mind the young ones learning to speak spainish, but i don't want the spainish youngesters thinks this is the way it will be, and they want have to learn english. So first learn english and then go for another language. So many other languages are out there for our kids to learn why must it always be spainish. It is not out national language. I have a hard time when i get on the phone and it comes hit 1-2 for english. why do we single them out as getting special treatment. Let them learn english just like all the otm's ( other then mexicans)
You have a hard time operating a telephone? Pressing one is too difficult for you? These are your words.