Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Hello, Asalamu alaikum, Bonjour, ciao and hola. That is hello in five different languages.
These days the education departments and school systems heavily impose second languages on students. However, are they really worth the time and effort?
I completely disagree with schools here in Bahrain that insist on teaching a second language which will be of little use to the student in the future.
I mean, what is the point of a student learning German for instance, if his, or her, ambition is to study abroad in the UK?
A school should not force a student to study a useless second language.
However, there are instances that learning a second language could prove essential for the individual and the country.
An interesting example has occurred in schools in the United States. Some are abandoning French or Spanish lessons in high schools and are moving towards teaching Chinese.
It makes sense. Economists predict China will become one of the leading (if it is not already) countries in the world as far as trade and commerce is concerned.
Well that sounds like a great plan for the US. Therefore, the teaching of the Chinese language could prove to be important and useful for students worldwide.
I studied French from the first grade but was not able to continue with the language since I was obliged to take up English as a second language for my IGCSE course – since I am holder of a Bahraini passport. I am not protesting (I received an A in the subject) but I do believe that a student should be entitled to freedom of choice in the particular subject he or she chooses.
However, the government schools must look into putting more effort in teaching second languages.
A decade ago, students only started learning English from the fourth grade, but times have changed, and the ministry must now have a look at what is being done … or rather, what is not being done!
YouthTalk
By Ismaeel Na’ar
