Foreign language for children - which would you choose?

[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.

[dardar63]

Hi,

I’m wondering if there are schools that teach foreign language to toddlers from 2yo in singapore ? As children pick up language very well aged between 1-3yo I feel it’s such a waste to let this window period go wasted. It’s also a good chance to bond with the child …

[thatsmygirl]

Hi everyone!

Can anyone tell me if I am the only ambitious one?
I looked thru most of the threads here and majority is about english and chinese!
For me, I wish to cultivate my child in as many languages as possible!
At least 6! English chinese, hokkien, cantonese, japanese and korean!
Is it too much to ask for?
And I have not even started on more exotic ones likes French, Italian... and the list goes on. Hahas!
What do you want your kid to be well versed in? :rahrah:

[karenmok]

I think it is very important to know a few non-Singapore/foreign languages. Which ones do you think are the most suitable for a kid to pick up? My choices are:


1. Japanese - Japan is still an economic powerhouse.
2. Korean - S. Korea is emerging fast as an economic powerhouse.
3. Indian - India is emerging fast as an economic powerhouse.
4. German - Germany is still an economic powerhouse.
5. Arabic - spoken in many countries.

Can someone help me select one of these languages? My kids may get a better start in life if they learn another language (English and Mandarin are already known to them).

[xiaostar]

Indian is not a language.

[phtthp]

in Asian context -

learn Malay.

SG is surrounded by big population countries like Malaysia, Indonesia.

currently in Malaysia - many kindergarten kids learning 3 languages, ie.
Malay, Chinese, English.

[phtthp]

xiaostar:

Indian is not a language.

India is the country, Tamil is the language.

[xiaostar]

phtthp:

xiaostar:

Indian is not a language.

India is the country, Tamil is the language.

Hindi is one of the official languages.
Tamil is a regional language.

[karenmok]

So which of the Indian languages is useful to learn? India is soon becoming an economic powerhouse.