Sunday, 27 April 2008

Language Colleges

I’ve recently done an Internet search on “Language Colleges”. There are a lot of them. I’m trying to do some focussed marketing of “Manuel”, a Spanish reading resource my small publihsing company, Bridge House, has produced. I have to admit, the whole idea Language Colleges makes me feel a little uneasy. I’m a great believer that every child should learn at least two languages at school, preferably starting at primary school. There should be diversification in the language taught, so that we produce a population which can communicate with a variety of other people. Languages should include a balance community ones, European and world wide languages. There will be a shortage of teachers but we should and we can address that.
But Language Colleges? Only offer excellent opportunities to a few and not necessarily to those learners who have an aptitude for languages?
I’m not sure that anything about the specialist school system is particularly healthy, anyway.
All schools should strive for excellence in everything they teach.
The main tool needed for success at language learning is correct motivation. Learners need to know why they need to learn languages. Then learning becomes easy.

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