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In reply to the discussion: I just found out my kid's kindergarten class is teaching Russian 40 mins per day. [View all]WhiskeyGrinder
(22,359 posts)61. Once a kid from an English-language home hits kindergarten, there's not a lot of "learning" left to
do when it comes to speaking their native language. Sure, we have to teach them the rules of grammar, but when it comes to understanding the concept of a language, they get it. They're ready to pick up another one. So speaking 40 minutes a day playing counting games or pointing at colors and speaking in another language is going to come really easy to them.
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I just found out my kid's kindergarten class is teaching Russian 40 mins per day. [View all]
honest.abe
Sep 2022
OP
They're doing in anticipation of Trump seizing power in the near future?
canuckledragger
Sep 2022
#1
I really should stop being surprised by this place, but I'll admit it, this one is getting me.
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#28
Agreed - I read the title and my immediate reaction was to wish I had a child
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#255
I read a book about the brain that said kids under 10 absorb language extremely well.
MLAA
Sep 2022
#37
this is a fact, even earlier. My granddaughters were hearing Dutch and English since they were born
msfiddlestix
Sep 2022
#193
As others have pointed out, learning another language actually improves proficiency
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#259
Most kids won't ever be professional musicians or athletes, so we should probably cut music
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#29
I don't care whom you is, yall aint got no business teachin them furrin talks to younguns
Hermit-The-Prog
Sep 2022
#184
Once a kid from an English-language home hits kindergarten, there's not a lot of "learning" left to
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#61
I'm curious, what new things are you learning about the language in your 40s?
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#86
Right, there's a difference between learning vocabulary words and understanding how language works.
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#99
I'm not simplifying anything. I'm definitely wasting my time, though, and I regret that I ever bit
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#113
You seem to have a very clear idea about what he might do with his life. I'd encourage you to let
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#69
It seems a bit ignorant to think that language education is about language use later in life
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#128
The point isn't to make the kids fluent in Russian so they can use it in later life.
Ocelot II
Sep 2022
#129
Didn't you claim you were bowing out of this thread because you were wasting time?
W_HAMILTON
Sep 2022
#140
I did but I changed my mind because your comment didn't make sense to me.
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#198
Ha, this post reminded me of HS and all the Spanish speakers taking French class.
Ace Rothstein
Sep 2022
#167
No, it would be smart. It would allow the non-Spanish speakers to better communicate
pnwmom
Sep 2022
#135
Wrong. They speak English already. And wrong: learning a second language HELPS English
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#35
When programmer candidates applied at my past two jobs, musicians were preferred over others.
TheBlackAdder
Sep 2022
#100
During WW2, one of the best orchestras in whole country was scientists & engineers at Los Alamos. nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#103
1.They measure English literacy. 2.School language programs have withered (funding). 3
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#111
Forget Russian. Sub any other second language and the kids will speak better English than none.
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#124
1. English literacy is not always the primary language of immigrants! Duh.
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#139
I agree with everything, except your comment about teaching Russian, now, being ignorant.
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#263
Now the reason is economic, not political. Russian won't be very *useful*. But like I said
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#287
Exactly. Language synergy makes a person better at their mother language by learning other languages
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#57
How would you rank Russian as useful/practical language to learn as a 5 year old?
honest.abe
Sep 2022
#220
Because that is when it is best to start teaching different languanges.
Cuthbert Allgood
Sep 2022
#322
By the time a kid from an English-language home is in kindergarten, they've been learning English
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#23
He'll probably never learn enough math to be a nuclear physicist but that doesn't mean he shouldn't
meadowlander
Sep 2022
#52
No, the point is the curriculum doesn't have to justify mastery level in a subject to teach
meadowlander
Sep 2022
#71
There are millions of new things he can learn that are more useful than Russian.
honest.abe
Sep 2022
#31
I'm just asking what you consider "useful" to be, as everyone has a different idea.
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#92
Now, in 2022, Russian is inappropriate. Their music is great but their global influence now is awful
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#51
So you're going to dismiss an entire country because you don't like their current politics?
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#270
More people speak Russian than German, and Russia is widely considered a more powerful country
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#312
You are missing the point and you are gauging thing pre-Putins-War. . . . . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#316
Global influence doesn't make a language "inappropriate." No language is "inappropriate."
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#276
Sorry, my wording was poor or I was space limited in the title. My meaning is
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#299
How is it useful? Russia is at war with Ukraine...and with us really...they interfered with our
Demsrule86
Sep 2022
#217
I guess this is where I confess to being fluent in Russian, capable in three other languages, and
WhiskeyGrinder
Sep 2022
#88
Respect for other world cultures is a waste of time? He certainly doesn't seem to be picking it up
meadowlander
Sep 2022
#58
First - that seems disingenuous (given some earlier comments) or, at best, ignorant.
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#271
What fun! The kids won't become bilingual (unless they keep at it for years) but
Croney
Sep 2022
#60
Get it. (Not necessarily Russian, but any 2nd language will help your child, the younger the better)
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#64
I stand by my comment. I refrained from saying what I'll say now: that your best allies ...
Hekate
Sep 2022
#106
Russian is spoken by more people than Italian, German, Arabic, Japanese, or Korean
Ms. Toad
Sep 2022
#272
Agreed. Spanish is a much better choice at this time, but skip Russian and go to Chinese after. . nt
Bernardo de La Paz
Sep 2022
#154
Did you call the principal? Did you call the School Board office? Did you ask the teacher?
Hekate
Sep 2022
#90
I find it very nice that individual parents aren't able to dictate the curriculum.
LisaL
Sep 2022
#94
We learned German at that age and this was not that many decades post WWII. My WWII veteran
hlthe2b
Sep 2022
#112
Russian is a great Language to learn. Imagine being able to read Tolstoy and many other Classics
JI7
Sep 2022
#176
In some countries here, especially small ones, they start as soon as school starts
DFW
Sep 2022
#208
They're trying to "get" you by saying you think learning foreign languages is somehow
Wingus Dingus
Sep 2022
#223
Actually, it's based on GOP ties to Russia and their infiltration of our government.
Wingus Dingus
Sep 2022
#249
My neighbor learned Mandarin. That is because one of the teachers moved here from China.
Dysfunctional
Sep 2022
#224
That comment was in haste and dumb now that I am somewhat over the outrage.
honest.abe
Sep 2022
#242