| Academics in the UK have warned about the | | | | even went further by suggesting that the |
| decrease in number of students learning a second | | | | government should step in to introduce compulsory |
| language in schools. Despite the warnings, the rate of | | | | second language classes for pupils all over UK. This |
| enrollment for foreign languages in GCSEs continues | | | | might not be a bad idea as it has been done in many |
| to drop. | | | | other countries around the world. Our European |
| Experts said this decline in foreign language learning | | | | counterparts have integrated English lessons into their |
| has something to do with the British attitude to | | | | formal education system long before. Most students |
| languages. It seems that Britons believe that knowing | | | | in Germany, France and Poland would have studied |
| more than one language is a sign of weakness. Many | | | | English for a few years in their secondary schools. |
| agree that this is to a certain extent true because | | | | Turning to the Far East, China teaches their students |
| English is the world dominant business language. | | | | English for a few hours a week starting from primary |
| However, the new conservative government has | | | | school while Mandarin Chinese is used as the primary |
| complained that we will not have any Britons working | | | | medium of instruction for all other subjects. This |
| in the European Commission in the future if this | | | | system is also being administered in Singapore but |
| attitude continues. This is because the majority of | | | | with English being used as the primary medium of |
| our younger generations do not speak another | | | | instruction and Mandarin Chinese being taught as a |
| European language fluently. The European Commission | | | | foreign language. These students have been |
| currently requires their job applicants to take entry | | | | graduating from their high school as bilingual or |
| exams in another language other than their mother | | | | sometimes multilingual. As a result, they are far more |
| tongue. Naturally, Britons fall short of this criteria. The | | | | ready to take on international business and trade |
| consequences are likely to be as bad as the | | | | compared to our UK students who are only limited to |
| government fears, in that we will not have new | | | | jobs in English speaking countries. |
| generation of Britons inside the European Commission | | | | Independent research in the United States has shown |
| to influence important regulation drafting and policy | | | | pupils who are capable of speaking and writing two |
| decisions. | | | | languages would generally do better in maths |
| What can we learn from other countries? | | | | compared to students who only spoke English. It |
| Yes, it is true that many students pick up some form | | | | seems that being bilingual does have certain |
| of foreign language studies, but the majority of them | | | | correlations with intellectual ability. Some experts |
| will only do it for one semester. Mastering a language | | | | commented that the learning of a new language |
| cannot be done in a few semesters, let alone one. It | | | | helps to develop our intelligence further and this |
| can only be done over a sustained period of study. A | | | | phenomenon is also more prevalent amongst younger |
| beginner will typically take about 4 to 5 years of | | | | children. |
| regular studies before they can master a language | | | | Thus, learning another language should not be taken |
| fluently. | | | | as a sign of weakness, on the contrary, it will provide |
| So, what we really need is to encourage our children | | | | you with more economic opportunities around the |
| to take foreign language learning seriously, just like | | | | world and at home. |
| any other subjects such as maths or biology. Some | | | | |