tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post2736170911214282868..comments2024-03-20T16:27:56.522+00:00Comments on Norfolk Blogger: Languages to be taught to younger pupils ?Nich Starlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-40466986883020385112006-12-14T23:41:00.000+00:002006-12-14T23:41:00.000+00:00Good point, I can't say I've used either of those ...Good point, I can't say I've used either of those either - in fact my only memory of maths is making the really crap joke about pie being round not squared.<br /><br />However I still stand by the fact that learning French is a bit of a waste of time - even the French have launched an English language channel. <br /><br />Latin would be just as useful - at least there are games you could play in Latin, then theres the Harry Potter books and not to mention Stargate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-80425126635447016332006-12-14T22:51:00.000+00:002006-12-14T22:51:00.000+00:00I have a problem with the usefulness of quadratic ...I have a problem with the usefulness of quadratic equations or simultaneous equations, but they are still taught.Nich Starlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04237390959601973501noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-86694565086504414212006-12-14T22:48:00.000+00:002006-12-14T22:48:00.000+00:00I studied French at school from 11 - 16 and at bes...I studied French at school from 11 - 16 and at best I could just about hold a broken conversation in France today.<br /><br />My wife however, who is from Jersey where they learn French from aged 7 is near fluent (she only studied until 16 as well).<br /><br />So there is something to say for learning younger.<br /><br />The problem I have is with the usefulness of French.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-78506126527736328792006-12-14T18:00:00.000+00:002006-12-14T18:00:00.000+00:00It is refreshing to hear at a time when pupils are...It is refreshing to hear at a time when pupils are not taking languages as much as they did in the past, a report is suggesting children learn languages much earlier. I often say to some of my German friends that it is a lot easier for them to learn English because English is around them all the time in music, advertising, etc. If other languages can be around our children at an early age, hopefully we will have a much better record than we do at the moment.Andrew Allisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00001512586556659809noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33696095.post-14765799466633689662006-12-14T12:53:00.000+00:002006-12-14T12:53:00.000+00:00If people think that everyone speaks English, they...If people think that everyone speaks English, they're kidding themselves. I'm spending a year in Germany, as part of a languages degree, and there's no way I'd survive day-to-day life here without speaking German - let alone try negotiating a major business deal or coordinating an international company. Lack of language skills really hurts British business, and the continentals stereotype us something awful for being linguistically lazy.<br /><br />I wonder if this report will persuade Labour to reverse their decision to stop making a languages subject compulsory up to 16. Given that a compulsory language makes it harder for schools to hit their league-table target of 5 A*-C for each pupil (when compared with easier subjects), I suspect not.Jonny Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07414994559548890103noreply@blogger.com