Do schools in America teach foreign languages?

Question

In the UK, school children are routinely taught either French or, German. Latterly Spanish and Mandarin chinese have been introduced into the curriculum. I was wondering whether schoolkids in the USA are taught any foreign languages at all?

Answer 1

Yes, but not in the same way kids are in other countries (too bad for American kids).

In most cases the earliest kids are exposed to a forgein language in the U.S. is in Middle School (grade 6-8).

Most kids are not exposed until high school and in both cases it is usually optional and not a graduation requirement.

Answer 2

Schools teach foreign language, but not a lot. Most students don't take any foreign language until high school (grades 9-12), and then usually only 2 years of 1 foreign language (most commonly Spanish, French, German, or Latin).

I would prefer schools to teach foreign language early on, and continue throughout the schooling. I think the US falls behind other countries in the fact that we can normally only speak 1 language fluently (English).

Answer 3

LOL... there are 11 MILLION Mexicanos in the U.S. . No, wait. MORE than that. Those are all the illegals. Many millions more.
There are probably more Italians in America than there are in Italy. Also just about every country in the world has a fairly large representation in the States.
In my school, though they were all electives, we had an option of Spanish, German, and French.
I took German. I continued this all through high school, and took two semesters of college German. Being that I am not too bright, I know just enough German for Germans to think I know what I am talking about, so they talk real fast, and I lose them after about the second sentence:)
Many schools offer other languages according to the local population. Texas obviously teaches Mexican. don't say Spanish, dey will cuta yo' throat.
In L.A., they tried Ebonics. The blacks lost the gang wars, then it was Mexican, The Chicanos are out now, and it is now the Japs fighting the Chinese, they don't know what language to teach there, so they teach them all.
I think Arnold needs to go in there and start terminating.
(that was a joke).
All sadistic humor aside. Yes we do learn other languages.

Answer 4

I think elementary school should have those foreign language classes and teach them like high school dose. it would benefit the educational system and it would be a second language to the students. Spanish is common in the U.S as well as English and if elementary students learn them, then if they take the same classes in high school it should give them a better chance to get into college

Answer 5

In American grade schools the most common languages offered are Spanish, French and German. It some high schools (later grades) Latin, Mandarin and Japanese are also offered.

When you get to college you can take just about any language in the world.

Answer 6

all high schools do to prepare the students for college. some elementary school and middle schools do, too. when I was in 7th grade, I took a different foreign language each marking period. French, Russian, German, Latin, and Spanish. larger, richer school systems can afford to offer more languages. there are also specialized schools that teach Hebrew or various Asian languages. my cousins children have had Korean lessons.

Answer 7

Yes, but maybe it's not done as early as in other countries. It is an elective in later years. Unfortunately, it also seems like English itself is becoming a foreign language around here.

Answer 8

yes, they do but I think they are more limited than foreign countries are. It depends where the school is located at and the choices they give. Some are even required in american schools.

Answer 9

Yes we are you must have two years of some language too
graduate

Answer 10

Absolutely.