I want to put my 3 year old in a weekend language immersion class. However, I can't decide on French vs. Spanish. Which would you choose and why?
-
Spanish because it'll be more useful in the U.S. Just like I'll do mandarin over Spanish because it'll be more useful globally.
-
@regberadaisy: they offer French, Spanish, Chinese and Arabic.
-
Spanish will be more useful in the U.S., and I think it's good to know..... we might lean towards French though just since my husband speaks it (although not as good now) and we have extended family that speak French.
-
I really don't think it matters, the process of learning the language, any language, is what is important. Is there any language option that's available that you're currently speaking or interested in learning? That's how I'd select it for my son.
I'd probably select Spanish, because I studied it and want to brush up on it, but my husband would select French, because he studied it.
-
@looch: I'd like to learn French. I know Spanish. My husband took German.
-
I would choose Spanish. For us it would be very useful within the family (DH's dad is Spanish) but I also think our children would visit more Spanish-speaking than French-speaking countries.
-
French is actually the fastest growing language in the world. But Spanish would be more useful in the US.
-
Spanish. We live in CA so it's very useful.
-
Spanish. If he/she keeps up with it, it is a huge resume asset regardless of the profession in my area and in the US in general.
-
100% Spanish, for the reasons others have said. DH's opinion would be Chinese because it's more useful globally, and because it's more difficult to learn (after the "critical period"/onset of adolescence).
-
@lamariniere: interesting article. Thanks!
-
I also pick Spanish because it's pretty useful here in the U.S. I know there's always job postings looking for bilingual people! More opportunities!
-
I'd lean toward French, just because I love it! I'm thinking about taking classes myself since I haven't studied since college.
-
I would choose Spanish over French, simply because I was in French immersion (I was fluent as a child) and it has been useless to me as a second language. I think Spanish would be more useful in the U.S. However if I had the option of Mandarin, I would choose that over any European language.
-
I vote Spanish - my kids go to a Spanish immersion school and we chose it over French and Mandarin. Like others have said, for most areas in the US it is much more useful. Plus DH and I speak some Spanish so they can't pull too many shenanigans on us as they get older
There are lots of parents in our school that have their kids in a language that the parents themselves don't speak though. Is this a long term class though? I agree with others that it probably doesn't matter too much at this point, put her in which ever class you want and just be proud that you can give her early exposure to a second language.
-
I agree, Spanish. Your child will use it more, I really should have paid attention to my Spanish classes in high school because when I entered the work force I really could have used it.
-
French, but I'm in Canada and live in a bilingual community so it's pretty much a necessity to have around here. Also, I've found that being able to speak French allows me to communicate with people from many different countries when traveling since it is so widely spoken.
-
I don't know that you could go wrong with either, but Spanish would probably wind up being more useful. But then again I would probably choose French since we already speak Spanish at home.
-
I would choose French for my son, because that's what I teach and I love it! It would be very useful at the global level, even though he may not encounter many French speakers in the U.S. But as a language teacher I agree with @looch: that it's more about learning to learn a language than the language choice itself.
-
Spanish is much more widely applicable in the U.S. My girls love using their Spanish in the community.
-
I think Spanish is more useful in the U.S. and while traveling.
There are lots of parents in our school that have their kids in a language that the parents themselves don't speak though. Is this a long term class though? I agree with others that it probably doesn't matter too much at this point, put her in which ever class you want and just be proud that you can give her early exposure to a second language.
Reply
Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
21 comments