Do you think it's important for your dc to learn another language?

[Earlybird]

Listening to a debate on radio about whether or not it is important/valuable for our dc to learn another language. One side says 'yes' because we must be well educated to compete with graduates from other countries. Opposing view says 'nice but not necessary' as English is universal language for International business.

Your thoughts? Are your dc learning a language atm, and if so, which one?

I'm hearing an awful lot about Mandarin Chinese - lots of leaflets for it around my part of London, but I don't know anyone whose child is doing it.

And German is spoken not just in Germany but also in Austria, Switzerland and parts of Luxembourg.

But, as many have said here before, its not just about learning a language, but about broadening ones horizon, learing about different cultures and, for children, in particular, its good for their overall mental skills.

Hmm, this thread's a bit old for this question now, but what the hell I'm going to pose it anyway. Where do you think we should go on our hols to help ds practise his German? We've looked at Centreparcs in Germany and that's a possibility. Plus there seem to be a few activity type hols in Austria that would suit. We just need to get ds hearing a bit of echt Deutsch - and if poss asking for an ice cream in the language. What do you think? Is Switzerland out of the question due to cost and dialect? We like sports like climbing, horse riding. Germany? Austria?

If ds doesn't get a bit of encouragement/inspiration, there's a risk of him being turned off languages for life I reckon. I speak as a linguist - it would break my heart if he went off German as he's completely anti-French.

Well I'm a big swissophile so I say come here! Of course, the dialect is just something else, I can understand some, but when my boys really get going, I don't understand them anymore.

That said, the vast majority (99.9%) of Swiss automatically speak high German to foreigners, so you could expect in any interchange to be able to do it in German without and prob. I personally find the Austrian accent quite difficult to understand, although Tyrol is beautiful and we've gone there a few times on holiday.

How old is ds?

I really don't think Ch more expensive than eg London.

I say ditch Germany, Switzerland 1st choice, Austria 2nd.

If you come, pop in for a cuppa

Fauve,

How old is your son?

Here a couple of ideas (for the summer):

• sailing classes on the Bodensee or any other of the beautiful lakes in the south of Germany. There are even 'camp' style courses where the children stay for a week or so.

• Hotel Alpenrose in Lermoos (Austria): www.hotelalpenrose.at. Super child friendly hotel with wonderful childrens (and adult) activities, set in beautiful mountains.

• Schule Salem offers some sorts of summer holiday camps which may be worth looking at: www.salemcollege.de

Will try to think of some more activities...

Thank you so much for these suggestions. Sailing would actually be great, both dc have done some beginner sailing. Ds is 13 and dd will be 9. Will check out the other suggestions too

in answer to the Op. i think i heard he same radio programme

and no - i dont think its important for my children as 1 is a builder 1 wants to be a carpenter and the other has enough to learn at GCSE level without french which i doubt would open more doors for her. quite frankly if any 'lord' wants to make a concerted effort to push a particular subject they should push science. IMO

definitely want my kids to learn languages, we're also a family of linguists so it would be a huge waste not to. mind you, ds1 is not showing massive promise but ds2 has definitely got a natural ear for languages. what depresses me more than anything is primary languages taught by non specialists with appalling accents. I'd hope that the benefit of teaching younger children would be the better accents they can accquire, not scouse French, as my nephews and nieces seem to be taught but it is typical of attitudes in the Uk towards foreign languages that we won't pay for professionals to lead the classes

oh wow, wierd coincidence, very chuffed to read your recommendation annasmami, as we're going to that very same hotel in 5 weeks. boys can't wait

Ernest, have a wonderul time at the Alpenrose! We went there last summer and the kids still dance to the 'Fridolin Fuchs' and 'Smiley' songs almost every day (as we were persuaded to buy them the 'Aplpenrose' CD.) Are you hoping to ski?

I have another, unrelated, question for you (from another thread): I am looking to buy some German (Disney) dvds for dcs at Amazon.de. The German movie dvds apparently also include other languages including English. Have you bought these before? And if so, is the English version the same as the one you would buy in the UK?

If so, it would not only be (much!) cheaper to buy dvds on amazon.de but the children could watch them in either German or English!