Due to the cuts in education spending imposed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, school districts — including my own — have had to drastically decrease the amount of courses that are offered. While I understand that everything must take a hit, one thing that I am still scratching my head about is: Why language?
The importance of being able to speak more than one language is increasing.
Businesses are hiring more and more people for their language skills alone.
Being able to speak more than one language is quickly becoming a necessary skill in the job circuit.
If language is so important, then, why are we cutting it to the bare minimum? And why is the minimum so minimal?
Something needs to change, and I'm not talking about just bringing back certain classes for students to fill their schedules. I believe the "bare minimum" needs to change.
In most schools, language education begins when students are 11 to12 years old. However, research shows the best age for children to learn a second language is between birth and 7 years old.
Why not start earlier, when children are more adept to becoming bilingual?
Small changes like this could greatly impact the effect of language education in children, thus giving them the skills to succeed at an earlier age.
Sarah Lossi
Averill Park