Foreign Languages Open Up New Worlds of Learning

Tips for filling in the pieces where our schools fall short.

“If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.” Nelson Mandela

For children, learning a foreign language expands their horizons, gives them a leg up later on in life, and improves their overall linguistic abilities, even in their own language. I love our schools but, unfortunately, they are falling short when it comes to foreign language instruction.

Although studies have shown that when it comes to foreign language acquisition, the earlier the better, many of our local public schools start language instruction in middle school or even high school. And foreign languages are often the first to go in budget cuts.

http://mountvernon.patch.com/articles/foreign-languages-open-up-new-worlds-of-learning