Foreign language for children - which would you choose?

[chic_savvy]

coralie:

What's important is the one gets to practice/use the language that one learns. If not, it would deem a waste of time & effect. This is my personal thots


My hubby emigrated to Mauritius as a child. Took French as a 2nd language. Came to SG for uni & settled down here. Due to the lack of use, he thinks & responds slower in French as compared to when he 1st set foot in SG.

TRUE

[Agape]

mrswongtuition:

I personally will pick German.

Why?

1. My secondary school senior took German as 3rd language (she only started learning it in S1) and she actually went on to further her studies in Germany. She's now teaching at MOELC. I've seen how she pick up the language with relative ease though she did not have anyone to communicate with at that time (but her teacher hooked her up with some German penpals and she did go there on a trip to visit).

2. 5 of my friends are currently working in Germany and they told me that they really enjoy working there. Short working hours, great experienced gained from working there. They are only there to gain experience, no intentions of settling down there. 3 of them did mention that they had some communication probs because they did not know a word of German but now they are very comfortable there.

3. You can converse with her. It will be like a 'secret' language between your child and you. It's a special bonding time for mother and child. I'm trying to teach my boy how to speak Thai (picked it up on my numerous mission trips there). It's rather fun to teach him new words. However, my hubs also knows some simple Thai, so unless we converse with more advanced vocab/sentence structure, my hubs can still guess what we are talking about


However, I will not official lessons on that. Just some simple basic convo at home cos I want my boy to master English and Chinese first. 3rd lang can come later

Hi,

I am a Singaporean Chinese who speaks French. I don't think it's a very difficult language to learn but as for all languages, it takes time, effort and practice and lots of practice.

If I were to choose for my own kids, I will make sure they know English and Chinese (the next language that will be commercially important) well first. Japanese has a lot of commercial value (just turn to Recruit section of the Sat papers you can tell) and I think German has more value over French in Singapore and in most parts of Europe. However, the French language sounds better while German is \"rougher\".

At the end of the day, it's the passion and interest that will sustain one from learning the language. Today I still speak French and make every attempt to communicate with any French-speaking people I encounter and it's always pleasant to make a new friend just like that.

These are my personal views.

[chic_savvy]

Personally I've always felt that learning a language begins a form of communication with people. Apart from being able to understand the cultures and living (that is if you want to know), it also helps to bond people together when you speak the same language. It is that human bond and warmth between people that I want my daughter to experience.


It always intrigues me when I speak bahasa Melayu (fluently ok ;)) to those maciks at nasi padang stalls and put a surprising yet pleasant look on their faces (after that I get extra chicken keke). I mean it's just warmth lah.

I think Languages is a good ice breaker and just make ppl welcome you to their society and it's more than that.

I believe every parent wants their children to excel in some ways that's why you send them to abacus classes, speech & dramas etc. and like if you ask me, I wouldn't send her to piano or ballet classes. It like WT... I think I'm more of a \"practical\" parent.

If my child still can remember the 3rd (4th, 5th) languages she learns when she's grown, and put into good use, whether an engineer or just selling frankfurters, it's still for life.

:celebrate:

[chic_savvy]

Having said that, back to German or French, I can't seem to find German group classes for kids French a lot!

[fattysuperfamily]

chic_savvy:

Having said that, back to German or French, I can't seem to find German group classes for kids French a lot!

I am in support for taking on the german language. In fact, did think of enrolling for my boy when he is 4...at the moment, just make sure he is able to cope with english and chinese first...didnt know it is hard to find a german language centre...

[cnimed]

The Goethe Institute should have classes.

[cantbearit2]

Agape:

Japanese has a lot of commercial value (just turn to Recruit section of the Sat papers you can tell) and I think German has more value over French in Singapore and in most parts of Europe. However, the French language sounds better while German is \"rougher\".

Hi Agape,

Although plenty of jobs await you if you know Japanese. Ask anyone who has worked at both a Jap and German MNC, they will tell you the same thing. The Germans are more easy going compared to Japs where discipline comes above all else and there are no flexibility in a Jap firm.

IMHO, I will prefer Germans to French. Think the French are pretty proud with their language thus even if you knew their language, without the correct \"accent\", it is not easy to break into their circle.

Unlike the Germans where they really value your German speaking ability (speaking from close friends and relatives experience).

At the end of the day, which language does your kiddo prefer? That is still the most imp question as it serves as a motivating factor during the learning stages.

[chic_savvy]

It is really hard to find German classes for kids. And no, Goethi has only for adults

[chic_savvy]

cantbearit2:

Agape:

Japanese has a lot of commercial value (just turn to Recruit section of the Sat papers you can tell) and I think German has more value over French in Singapore and in most parts of Europe. However, the French language sounds better while German is \"rougher\".

Hi Agape,

Although plenty of jobs await you if you know Japanese. Ask anyone who has worked at both a Jap and German MNC, they will tell you the same thing. The Germans are more easy going compared to Japs where discipline comes above all else and there are no flexibility in a Jap firm.

IMHO, I will prefer Germans to French. Think the French are pretty proud with their language thus even if you knew their language, without the correct \"accent\", it is not easy to break into their circle.

Unlike the Germans where they really value your German speaking ability (speaking from close friends and relatives experience).

At the end of the day, which language does your kiddo prefer? That is still the most imp question as it serves as a motivating factor during the learning stages.

Haha, I've asked her before but really, she just thinks it's some sort of another boring activity. But she seems more keen when I said I'll learn with her. I'm not in a hurry for her to learn an additional language cos now she's already also talking with a mixture of our local mixed culture languages! So we'll see But if any parents'd like to enroll their kids to German lessons, let me know! We could form a small group learning for the kids together!

[cantbearit2]

chic_savvy:

cantbearit2:

[quote=\"Agape\"]

Japanese has a lot of commercial value (just turn to Recruit section of the Sat papers you can tell) and I think German has more value over French in Singapore and in most parts of Europe. However, the French language sounds better while German is \"rougher\".

Hi Agape,

Although plenty of jobs await you if you know Japanese. Ask anyone who has worked at both a Jap and German MNC, they will tell you the same thing. The Germans are more easy going compared to Japs where discipline comes above all else and there are no flexibility in a Jap firm.

IMHO, I will prefer Germans to French. Think the French are pretty proud with their language thus even if you knew their language, without the correct \"accent\", it is not easy to break into their circle.

Unlike the Germans where they really value your German speaking ability (speaking from close friends and relatives experience).

At the end of the day, which language does your kiddo prefer? That is still the most imp question as it serves as a motivating factor during the learning stages.

Haha, I've asked her before but really, she just thinks it's some sort of another boring activity. But she seems more keen when I said I'll learn with her. I'm not in a hurry for her to learn an additional language cos now she's already also talking with a mixture of our local mixed culture languages! So we'll see But if any parents'd like to enroll their kids to German lessons, let me know! We could form a small group learning for the kids together![/quote]Think I will wait till my DD is older cos she's already struggling wif Chinese.