Funadvice Logo

Should the US start teaching foreign language sooner?

Home More advice Education & School

Over here in Germany, many school systems start getting serious about teaching children English when they're in 5th grade. Before that, they are learning basic English vocabulary. Later on, depending on which "track" you're on (German schools work very differently), you can choose another language proficiency, or continue with English.

It's been proven time and time again that the best time for teaching students language is when they're between 4-12 years of age, and the mind is capable of rapidly absorbing new words and sorting out sounds on a daily basis. Seeing little German kids coming up to me and speaking English, it makes me wonder why US schools wait so long before regularly teaching foreign language. Some are already teaching foreign language in grade school, but these are mostly private schools.

Do you agree that public elementary schools in America should start making foreign language a serious part of the cirriculum?