Student+Commentary+2

(SPA Global challenge member, Parker Cook, ponders about Multi-lingualism in education) = = =**Multi-lingualism**=
 * As the world moves toward a much more fluid culture, how should education deal with multi-lingualism in regions? While English is rapidly becoming the main language of business, nobody wants to lose the culturally rich languages of the world, especially the non-Western world. In an environment where a number of different languages are widely spoken (for example, English, Spanish, and Somalian in the Twin Cities), should schools be multi-lingual, should families make the choice of what language to raise their children in, or what?

(Discussion 2, September 14th 2007)**

• “Schools should be teaching other languages/multi-lingual. Because otherwise if the children, want to go abroad or maybe they don't know how to speak the native tongue of where they are living how will they be able to work? Our school didn't even offer Spanish to middle and elementary school until last year!” (Ambika Chand Lall)

• “In my opinion, as western-centered as this may sound, it is in the best interest of those getting vocational training to learn English as it is spreading fast in the world (this is very evident in India).” (Ankit S)

• “There needs to be a central language that is the mode for communication between cultures. While maintaining a person’s original culture is important, there needs to be a way for people living in completely different places. Students should have the opportunity to learn their native language and parents should be able to choose the language in which they want to raise their kids.” (Aniket Kotnis)

• “I believe that in education, whoever is being educated should choose what and to what extent they are being taught. the effort should be equal on both sides. In the case of language, people should be taught what either they want to be taught or whatever language will benefit them the most. Like I said earlier in the Education Discussion, I believe that language should be taught to everyone, in whatever language is most likely to benefit them.” (Justin Martin)

• “English is the major language in the world today. It is the language of communication. In a fast-paced world, idealistically everyone is expected to compete and they can only do this effectively if they know English. Who knows? Chinese and Hindi could be languages of the future. It would be good to know languages other than English, but English should ideally be given priority.” (Manas Bajaj)

• “I absolutely agree that English is the most important language in the world, it is the language of business. And yes, I think that English should be taught as a second language. With that I want to say that, if the children had an insufficient education in language they won't be able to communicate with other people from around the world. So it really is important that a second language, or even a third one, is taught” (Piet Schoettler)

• “Speaking a lot of languages brings many advantages for instance in your job. I think if you speak different languages you should try to teach them your children because it would probably help them. They have less problem in school and can choose were they want to live.” (Kerstin Freundenhagen)

• “I believe that English is the medium for communication across the globe. Thus English should to be taught to everyone receiving an education” (Premal Jay Shelat)

• “English can break all barriers which is precisely why it is known as the universal language. In India, further positive globalization can take place when English starts being accepted as the universal language in all schools, private or public, colleges and other educational institutions must start using English as the first language.” (Priyanka Mysore)

• “It is not right t forget you mothertounge but people should start learning other languages as well. Not only English.” (Gabriela Dziki)

• “say that schools should give the option of choosing between two languages. Because when children want to travel abroad they should be able to understand the language there – how would they be able to work? English is the most convenient language, since it is a hard language to learn, it should be enforced when children are babies” (Aliya Modi)

• “While English is a vital language and probably will be the language of business in the future I don't think that the children should lose touch of their native languages. The parents should decide what languages should be taught to their children.” (Monica Salgaonkar)

To Discussion 3