do you think world language programs should start in schools at the kindergarten level?

Question

where i live, they start at fourth grade, but i know that it is easier to learn a second language the younger you are....
but the question i guess would then be
what language to teach them????

Answer 1

The earlier, the better. They're like little sponges, soaking up everything. Young children have an easier time with pronunciation too. For people living in the U.S., I'd say Spanish would be the language to learn. It's not that any language is better than another, but a child would have more opportunities to hear Spanish and have access to speaking it than any other language.

Answer 2

The curriculum for Kindergarten is so overwhelmed now with "No Child Left Behind" that a formal language program will send the students and the teachers over the edge. I agree that adding meet and greet language is fun and appropriate, but lets not add it to the standards just yet.

Answer 3

I wouldn't go for formal teaching but giving youngsters meeting and greeting phrases plus the names of common things in the classroom in several languages is fun.

A school I worked at had lots of picture dictionaries in different languages which the children loved.

Answer 4

ABSOLUTELY NOT! THERE IS SOME CRAZY SCHOOL OF THOUGHT THAT SAYS WE HAVE TO LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND THAT WE MUST START YOUNG. Younger children need to learning more English vocabulary. I can't help but wonder if the decline in vocabulary scores on standardized tests is due to focus on learning foreign language

Answer 5

no way, all these language immersion programs are a waste of money. schools these days don't get adequate funding to begin with so school officials need to get their priorities straight.