tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post1311339503635918009..comments2024-03-13T08:18:08.922+10:30Comments on Catdownunder: So, how many languages do you speak?catdownunderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08189081688973141295noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-21895921749502852742010-03-30T13:06:09.990+10:302010-03-30T13:06:09.990+10:30Several ;)Several ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07546287562521628467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-49070310460533825342010-03-30T12:51:18.110+10:302010-03-30T12:51:18.110+10:30PS
The best encouragement to learn a language is ...PS<br /><br />The best encouragement to learn a language is to be able to use the new language in real life, amongst class mates, friends and family. Much more fun than the classroom.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-91968038288196297782010-03-30T12:46:05.677+10:302010-03-30T12:46:05.677+10:30In Australia we have some areas where people have ...In Australia we have some areas where people have no contact with foreign languages, in other areas there is contact with many, and the thing which makes it difficult to choose a language to teach is that the languages come from a wide range of language groups. <br /><br />Europeans learn languages from neighbouring countries, but a lot of those languages are related. Here in Australia we speak a European language but are surrounded by unrelated languages. <br /><br />In addition, the demographics in any area can change quickly, so that by the time we realise there has been an influx of people from one area of the world, they have moved on and another group has replaced them. In six years we have lived here the influxes have come from New Zealand, African continent, China, India and the Middle East, and currently the Phillipinos are moving in. The education system is never going to keep up to that many changes, and even if they did, the second language learned in school by checkout operators would be useless within a couple of years of starting work.<br /><br />It is much easier to learn languages related to our own, so perhaps if we concentrated on European languages first, then introduced other language groups when the student has found an interest in languages.<br /><br />Another approach would be would be a course which introduces the use of language as communication around the world, with support for study in individual languages.<br /><br />In the meantime, I find myself communicating with people using Googlish. I have to read between the lines to make sense of it, but a good knowledge of my own language is proving to be a big help!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-73074844901068916012010-03-30T11:51:39.392+10:302010-03-30T11:51:39.392+10:30I sympathise with the schools too Donna - with the...I sympathise with the schools too Donna - with their lack of resources and time for the things they must teach. I have less sympathy with government policy that does not use resources we do have!catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-11595109066869593112010-03-30T10:24:22.011+10:302010-03-30T10:24:22.011+10:30I sympathise with schools here. They are damned if...I sympathise with schools here. They are damned if they do and damned if they don't. Languages are rarely taught in rural schools because there simply isn't someone to teach the subject. There are only a certain number of hours in a school day, and english, maths, the sciences and health must take priority. If the child attends a religious school, then another hour must be found for RAP.<br /><br />Not all children want to learn a language. I detested the way french was taught in my school and never learnt a thing. I left, discovered an interest and then studied it in my own time - at my own expense - to degree level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-29472511639991105382010-03-30T10:16:15.644+10:302010-03-30T10:16:15.644+10:30There are ways for the determined of course but I ...There are ways for the determined of course but I am more concerned about the lack of facilities in school - particularly teachers capable of teaching and teaching well. <br />R, if you read this, would you care to comment?catdownunderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06959328192182156574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1663680578112260744.post-12320129469616944492010-03-30T09:52:30.145+10:302010-03-30T09:52:30.145+10:30Does South Australia have a School of Languages?
...Does South Australia have a School of Languages?<br /><br />What about community options?<br /><br />Yes, they ought to be taken a hell of a lot more seriously.<br /><br />One could argue that mathematics is a language of its own. And the sciences also. In as far as languages are symbols or units of same...Adelaide Duponthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490123934889071074noreply@blogger.com