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Pre-K language learning

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13 messages over 2 pages: 1 2  Next >>
Spanky
Senior Member
Canada
Joined 5961 days ago

1021 posts - 1714 votes 
Studies: French

 
 Message 1 of 13
25 October 2010 at 10:23pm | IP Logged 
A fiendish experiment involving very young human test subjects is apparently underway, all in an effort, as far as I can tell, to render the youngest generation more confused and head-hurty* than ever.

"By attending pre-kindergarten class at Lester B. Pearson International they are mastering English, French, and Mandarin. Some pupils are learning Italian and Spanish too."

Bizarre polyglot experiment - the lawsuits will come in 15 - 20 years.


*"head-hurty" - yes, I said head-hurty. Seemed appropriate.

Edited by Spanky on 25 October 2010 at 10:32pm

1 person has voted this message useful



Cainntear
Pentaglot
Senior Member
Scotland
linguafrankly.blogsp
Joined 6016 days ago

4399 posts - 7687 votes 
Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic
Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh

 
 Message 2 of 13
25 October 2010 at 11:02pm | IP Logged 
Ohnoes. It's good to see that there's always the education-hating crazies posting on newspaper comment sections the world over.
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Deshwi
Triglot
Newbie
Canada
Joined 5605 days ago

31 posts - 38 votes
Speaks: English*, Spanish, French
Studies: Arabic (Written), Turkish, Hindi, Persian

 
 Message 3 of 13
26 October 2010 at 12:40am | IP Logged 
I love this. I would've loved to have had this when I was in kindergarten.
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lingoleng
Senior Member
Germany
Joined 5303 days ago

605 posts - 1290 votes 

 
 Message 4 of 13
26 October 2010 at 1:26am | IP Logged 
The best foundation for a successful language education and (- if really necessary, as some here seem to think -) a fantastic life as a super cool world conquering polyglot: Teach the kiddies their native language, and well, if possible. You cannot build castles on sand.
For our children, who grow up dumbed down by talk shows, Japanese comics and video games, with HP1 as the only book they'll ever read, every single minute of available education would be needed for solidifying the foundation, not for strange experiments by some strange ...(insert your favourite insult).
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The Real CZ
Senior Member
United States
Joined 5654 days ago

1069 posts - 1495 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Japanese, Korean

 
 Message 5 of 13
26 October 2010 at 1:28am | IP Logged 
"Hey honey, we need to save up for our child's college funds."
"Yeah, I'd love to do so, if this school didn't cost $6,000."


Seriously, that's the only fault I find in it. I'm for teaching younger kids other languages, but most people can't afford that.
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Dragonsheep
Groupie
United States
Joined 5275 days ago

46 posts - 63 votes 
Studies: Tagalog, English*
Studies: Japanese, Latin

 
 Message 6 of 13
26 October 2010 at 3:53am | IP Logged 
Well, to be frank, it's $6,000 for only one year of their life. It's $6,000 for theoretically about 66% (my guess) of the way to fluency in about 5 languages. If the research is correct, the kids can very well own the education system, and thus may eliminate the need for tutors, enrichment classes, etc. down the road. It might even bump them into the Canadian equivalent of GATE for the rest of their childhood.

I'd think it's worth it; I realize Canada, being socialized and all, doesn't leave as much money for luxuries. (I'm a proud citizen myself.) However, I think $6,000 for such a huge benefit in one's childhood is well worth it.

My whole point will be moot anyways if and when the government begins to fund it.
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Spanky
Senior Member
Canada
Joined 5961 days ago

1021 posts - 1714 votes 
Studies: French

 
 Message 7 of 13
26 October 2010 at 6:06am | IP Logged 
Dragonsheep wrote:
I realize Canada, being socialized and all, doesn't leave as much
money for luxuries.


Oops, nope, not a socialist country by any stretch, though the slowly-eroding free
health care is pretty nifty.


Edited by Spanky on 26 October 2010 at 6:20am

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Cainntear
Pentaglot
Senior Member
Scotland
linguafrankly.blogsp
Joined 6016 days ago

4399 posts - 7687 votes 
Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic
Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh

 
 Message 8 of 13
26 October 2010 at 10:16am | IP Logged 
lingoleng wrote:
The best foundation for a successful language education and (- if really necessary, as some here seem to think -) a fantastic life as a super cool world conquering polyglot: Teach the kiddies their native language, and well, if possible. You cannot build castles on sand.
For our children, who grow up dumbed down by talk shows, Japanese comics and video games, with HP1 as the only book they'll ever read, every single minute of available education would be needed for solidifying the foundation, not for strange experiments by some strange ...(insert your favourite insult).

Ah yes, the "teach em English before" line. You know most kids in bilingual education are more articulate in their L1 at the end of their primary educaion than kids in monolingual education?

The thing I dislike most about arguments like yours is that they describe multilingual education as an "experiment". It is not. It has been done for many, many centuries. Monolingualism is a modern (post-rennaissance) ideal based around the uniform identity of the nation-state, something which is not really natural.

Do not make the mistake of thinking of yourself as being the "normal" one, because you may actually be the one who's different.


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