Ch-ch-changessss

[Breine]

Of course Levian had English in school :P

I've taken several languages throughout my school years. English and German/French are mandatory here, which means most Danes are at least somewhat bilingual. Other than English and German I've also taken Spanish and Latin. Would've loved to have taken some French too - always wanted to learn that language, actually.

What I would like to change about the education system here? Hmm.. a couple of years ago the entire education system sort of went through a change, which means that it's now harder to get into uni. That screwed it up for many students that graduated High School under the old system, because they now have to take some classes they didn't need to have to get into uni before. I'm one of those people, and it sucks mighty arse.

[Aerith's Knight]

Nothing, it's pretty good actually. Promotes higher education and is relatively free. For middle and high school students, even their books are free.

Anywho, if you want to live in a country that has to learn different languages, come here. I had to learn English, Dutch, German and French. Although I dropped French after about 3 years.

[Levian]

Wow, I thought you took in English in school as well! I guess you learned all on your own, then. =O Wow.

Also, I'd make English as a subject allow more independent and self-choice in terms of reading.

Oh sorry about that, I was talking about third language choices. English was compulsary second language from 3rd to 11th grade.

[Jiro]

The only thing I've got any real right to pick on about the education system here is the cost. It's been very expensive to go to school, even in primary school. Any camps/excursions are usually compulsory or have some kind of assessment tied to it, which makes it hard for kids from low income families to actually pass and make something of themselves.

[aquatius]

Whenever I hear people speaking German/Japanese in public I'm tempted to follow and listen to them or try to talk to them but alas I am too shy.

[Dignified Pauper]

I learned a moderate amount of German, much of which I forgot, but it's useful for talking with some of my old friends from Germany.

That said, I agree we should encourage individuals to study another language, but I don't agree it should be mandatory.

One, many American's will never leave the country. Two, I think if you're traveling abroad, you should have a novice grasp of the language of that country you are visiting. I get so mad when I hear that people in America don't know English. I also get mad when I hear about people going to non-English speaking countries and not knowing their language. It's just rude. Europeans clearly do a much better job at educating themselves, but this is because they don't have to travel far to find another language.

America's closest language is Spanish in Mexico, and not many really go there unless it's tourist destinations where everyone speaks English anyway to cater to the tourism.

[Quindiana Jones]

Everyone in Europe is awesome with languages, except for the English who are all "dude, everyone speaks English." It's true now, but still...you're a dick.

So yeah. That's what I'd change. At least one foreign language should be mandatory from the start of secondary school to the end of college, and there should be more choice. 7 years of a language. Though I'd remove the GCSE and A level tests for mandatory language lessons, and the lessons themselves would be less stressful and forceful. At the moment, it's all "this is this is French. Memorise it. Now memorise every grammatical use of it. Done? No? OK tough, do it in your own time. Next thing. This is this...". Obviously, other languages would be optional and would have the standard examinations etc.

I'm not even going to start on the other massive flaws in the education system. My God, it truly is abysmal.

[Rantz]

Wow, I thought you took in English in school as well! I guess you learned all on your own, then. =O Wow.

I don't think that's what he meant, at least in Swedish schools English is one of the subjects that are mandatory for the longest time along with Swedish and Math. But really, there's such an abundance of English movies, video games and whatnot that you hardly even think of English as a second language anymore. If people ask if I know any other languages than Swedish, I'll be like "No, not really, I forgot most of the French I learned in school... Oh, well, I know English of course." English-spoken media is just such an integral part of our culture and everyday life that it's only in really rural areas where some people don't know English.

As for the topic, uhh, I'm not sure. Less papers and tests, more thinking?

[Levian]

Rantzien didn't read my second post. *runs away crying*

[Madame Adequate]

Wow, I thought you took in English in school as well! I guess you learned all on your own, then. =O Wow.

I don't think that's what he meant, at least in Swedish schools English is one of the subjects that are mandatory for the longest time along with Swedish and Math. But really, there's such an abundance of English movies, video games and whatnot that you hardly even think of English as a second language anymore. If people ask if I know any other languages than Swedish, I'll be like "No, not really, I forgot most of the French I learned in school... Oh, well, I know English of course." English-spoken media is just such an integral part of our culture and everyday life that it's only in really rural areas where some people don't know English.

Our language is the best
Best language in the world~

[The Summoner of Leviathan]

I am torn about foreign languages in school. While learning at language before the age of 5 is greatly beneficial for the child not only in proficiency in the language but also in brain development, yet if the language is not going to be constantly used it can be problematic.

I dunno about Ontario, Moon Rabbit, but in NB the French the non-Immersion students took was pitiful. In grade 9 they were still doing days of the week and masc and fem exercises, stuff that I covered in elementary school in Immersion. And this is in the only officially bilingual in the country in an area that is about 60% French. So yeah, they REALLY need to fix the French Core program. Also, the Immersion program needs to be fixed. While I understand that at some point maths and sciences are to be taken in English cuz most of us will continue our education in English, they still offer too few classes in French for my liking. One class of French per semester in grade 11 and 12 is hardly sufficient.

I could go on more but I need to go to work. More to come later...

[Rantz]

Rantzien didn't read my second post. *runs away crying*

Man I was looking for one but I didn't find it because there was no Wakka avatar.

[LunarWeaver]

I was forced to learn either German or Spanish, one or the other. I took German because the Spanish teacher was a dumbass. This was a huge mistake. I live in a very dominant hispanic community now. I don't remember any German because I never used it. You think I'm going to Germany? Ever? No. I should have just admitted that and went for the dumbass teacher as I have no interest in the country of Germany at all, personally.

And are some people saying we should get rid of PE or something? I sort of scanned and think I saw that. I don't think we should get rid of it but rather revise it. It doesn't teach you a lifestyle of how to remain healthy your whole life. It's like soccer today, football today, run around the gym today, lift weights sometimes, okay here's your A and diploma now gtfo. That's it. At least that's how it was done in my school. Where's the schedules taught throughout the year that tells you how to upkeep a healthy exercise regime week after week for the rest of your life? Where's the dietitian teaching you eating habits? I didn't have any of that at my school. But my school was absolute so whatever.

Anyway, languages. I guess they are important, but only if more importance are placed on them. I didn't care about them that much. This topic is not for me at all because I'm an uninformed pooface.

And learning to sew? smurf that. I'm not smurfing sewing. They tried to teach it to me and I just hurt myself and failed a lot.

[Værn]

At my high school we WERE required to take two years of a foreign language and our options were: Spanish, French, German and Japanese. I chose German because it seemed the most interesting to me. My appologise to Germans out there, but it was an utter waste of time. I never ever use it. I should have taken Spanish like everyone else.

Of course, now I wish I'd taken Japanese! Haha!

As for what I'd change . . . ugh, so many things. I don't have the energy right now to even start.

Lucky you. At my school, everybody's required to take two years of a foreign language and our options are: Spanish.

Seriously. At least you had some choices. I'd've taken just about any other language over Spanish.
Unlike Noctiluca here, I don't live in a place with a large Hispanic population. As a matter of fact, there's virtually nobody here that speaks any more Spanish than they learned in school. Needless to say, after a few years of not attending Spanish class, not speaking Spanish or interacting with anyone who speaks Spanish, and not having any thought remotely related to the subject in question in any way, I can barely remember a single word of the language any more.

The only music that I'd ever been really big on through high school was mostly performed by German bands, so I'd've gladly taken German over Spanish, if only for the sake of music.
I'm a fan of anime, so I'd've gladly taken Japanese over Spanish; I've always though it would be nice to learn at least a bit of the language and more about Japanese culture, so I would have loved to have a Japanese class at my school.
My dad's side of the family was German, and my mom's side of the family was French. Even if I chose a language based on my genes, I'd've had more obligation to pick French than Spanish (though in the end I don't suppose I'd use it any more often).

Anyways... I don't know about the system, but I'd definitely like my old school to start offering more choices for foreign language classes.

[Heath]

The thing is, it's not even foreign languages that aren't taught well within the British school system. I grew up in Wales and as such I had to take Welsh on top of French/German up until year 9. Welsh is mandatory until year 11, but you can get away with just teaching GNVQ level for the last two years. To give you an indication of what that means, the old joke is that GNVQ stands for Generally Not Very Qualified. Welsh teaching was a farce in years 10 and 11 and I can safely say my knowledge of Welsh went down from having one lesson a week which is not enough to learn a language. Perhaps I wouldn't mind so much but for the disproportionate amount of jobs that require Welsh where I live. If the Welsh Language Board want to throw hissy fits about people not using Welsh they should be fighting that campaign in the schools before the workplace. Teach it to people in school and more people will use it within their working life. Simple as.

Otherwise, I think starting foreign language teaching before the age of 11 is something that simply must be changed. It's something that I find incredibly aggravating because I enjoy languages and would give anything to break beyond an increasingly faltering 'conversational' level of German into something resembling fluency. It's such an arrogant approach that the British have to languages and you only have to look at the majority of British tourists abroad who make no effort at all to acclimatise to local customs or languages and expect it all done for them while they holiday in Spanish resorts that cater almost exclusively to the English. It's so lazy and it angers me so. When I was at college studying the for my International Baccalaureate I was genuinely embarrassed by the standard of my German next to the English of my German classmates.

So yeah, that.

Edit: I'd also agree with the home economics thing. There's a distressing amount of people I know at university who simply can't cook. I've always liked the idea of a general 'life skills' class that taught you the basics of things such as cooking, sewing, financial stuff (e.g. how taxes, insurance, etc work) and so on.