Being forced to learn english
By shalloo
@shalloo (65)
United Arab Emirates
November 25, 2012 5:28am CST
Well,from the first class in school i was forced by my teachers to learn english language,they didn't focus on national language either,i understand that every thing on internet and in world is in english but when i look at Arab countries,China and Japan,their presidents also speak in their own languages,their websites,keyboards,facebook,every thing is in their own language,just think how easy it would be for their citizens to learn and get educated,Most of the research data online has been translated in chinese for their people,its incredible,i think thats why they are few steps short of becoming the world super power!
What do you think guys?
1 person likes this
20 responses
@humairaku (2038)
• Indonesia
25 Nov 12
it is also happens in my country. English spirit is like an ephoria. English course intitutions are everywhere. parents feel that enrolling their children to an English course is a must. English is everything. disabling in mastering English is like bad luck for most of people here. most of schools in my country states themselves as international school which English is spoken more than our national language. even there's a school located in the biggest city of my country forbids its students to speak our national language. the school permit them to speak English only. yeah, i know that it is purposed to make them good in speaking, but still it is too much that speaking our own national language is forbidden. the school has applied the policy too far so they almost lost their nationalism. i know some parents also teach their children to speak English everyday. it is to accustom their children in speaking English though it neglects their own language. i dont agree that we leave our national language and we learn English more instead. we should be proud to our national language cos there's a quote that language reflects the nation. so language takes important role in determining nation identity. English is important too but it is only as knowledge not for replacing our own language..
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
26 Nov 12
I agree. I hope that those schools will soon realize the importance of their people being literate and proud of their own language. If they lose it, they will lose not only a sense of pride, but also the knowledge and understanding from previous generations.
@humairaku (2038)
• Indonesia
4 Jan 13
thanks, habibti. this really happens in my country. there's an international school (it's not a school for foreigners but it is local school which makes English as main 'menu' at school), which applied English not only a lesson for the students but for their daily language. then government takes a policy to abandon the program cos government considers the policy of the school is over the edge. it becomes a national issue then. the government take a new and strict policy due to this issue. English will be eliminated from elementary schools. it means that no English lesson will be taught in elementary. English wont be taught for first to third graders but allow to be taught to fourth graders and up. i dunno whether it is a wise policy or not (the policy hasn't applied yet but soon). i disagree actually cos English is important skill to learn, to be taught to children. we can keep teaching them at very early age but of course in a balance portion with our own language.
@skyandgrassplot (1497)
• China
26 Nov 12
Well I feel so happy that you said China becoming the world super power,actually we still have a long long way to go but anyway we always will move forward.Do you know why now China can make such a fast development?One of the reason is all our people are learning English right now and this make us more well connect with the world,so dear my friend,pls be happy to learn English.
@firstcontact1990 (1784)
•
26 Nov 12
English is the most spoken language on earth but I believe, that although it should be taught in every school, it should not be forced upon people. On the point of China, they are in many respects already a superpower however, they are yet to overtake the US economically although, they are not far off as their economy is growing. On top of that, they do have the largest population in the world at around 1.3 billion...
India is another country to watch as well.
@angelkarah050182 (4980)
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
I guess you have the opportunity to learn English than them so be happy. English is so important. I guess most of us learn English. You are myLotting so it will help you a lot in learning English. Don't think that English is hard to learn. We just need to study grammar rules. Don't break them. Apply them. Someday, you'll be good in English. Think positive. Thanks for sharing and happy mylotting.
@vidhyaprakash_2 (7116)
• India
26 Nov 12
Hi friend, we don't learn anything by forcing activities, as you mentioned, some countries always give importance to their mother tongue and have most of their things with their own language. If all the countries are in this sort, then it is really hard to have an universal language which help us to avoid language barrier. We must learn the universal language with our own interest.
@mauie08 (53)
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
learning english takes time and eagerness. Some of us have been taught english language as early as toddlers even they are not native speakers until they reach their adult lives and continue learning. Other people on the contrary, even they have been learning english for so many years, are not even fluent. I think and I have noticed that being fluent with the language , one could be successful and gain a lot of opportunities. What you say.?
@olliekobra1 (1825)
•
25 Nov 12
I think that its wrong if you are being forced to learn anything if you dont want to, with learning you have to want to do it or else you will not learn anything. English is also one of the hardest languages in the world so you have to want to learn it. If your country speaks a different language then you should speak that first
@heaytheblogger (2876)
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
In my case our country has mandatory subjects ever since kindergarten that they've implemented teaching English in school institution it's beneficial in a way because we are able to learn a second language and thus hones us to other cultures, another thing though we are taught english from a very young age, we are also taught Filipino language vocabulary which is our national language. In a way its a good way to learn language vice versa.
@habibti320 (925)
• United States
26 Nov 12
As an English teacher, I want to comment on a few things. First of all, English is important as a global language as you know well. However, the mother tongue shouldn't be neglected. The best way to do it is to teach children to read and write in their first language so that they develop a literate culture and love of reading/writing. After they know how to read and write in their native language, reading in English can be taught. It's important for children to have a love of learning and understand concepts in their own language as well as English.
I would hope that as students are able to study English books, some of them choose to translate them into their first language and include concepts from their culture. In this way, the knowledge is not foreign, but a part of their culture. We must work to strengthen each culture, and use global languages such as English to improve our global communication and understanding.
@GilMegans (241)
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
For me, to learning more deeply and proficiently in speaking English is very vital and necessary requirement to all regardless on what country are you coming from. This universal language is internationally and globally mandated to all for the purpose of better understanding of the people despite of our different vernacular and dialects and to avoid complexity.
Why being forced if you are eager and willing to learn? Learning English fluently denotes massive practice and application. Why does many students spend more time and money just to know more about English language? simply because they really want to interact people using one common denominator wherever they go in the world.
In our humble country Philippines, many of foreign students preferred to study here such as: Korean, Japanese, Indian and many others. Why Philippines? and why not in US or in other countries where English is their vernacular? Anybody could give further explanation relative to this?
@acoustic67scouser (220)
• India
26 Nov 12
I always think that English should be the secondary language after your mother tongue including your national language, because I consider knowing English not only gives you the exposure to interact with others from another race, but it gives you chance to express yourselves to the outer world. I mean say for instance in business meetings or in offices or in day to day basis, where you need to interact, English comes into place. And I also agree to the fact that nations like China, Japan are progressing even though they don't give English the priority but I must say English is the language which have enabled the nations to link themselves with the global world over the centuries.
@TomDawg24 (79)
• Philippines
26 Nov 12
Thanks for having this kind of discussion because I too can relate to this. This has bugged me in my childhood days. Why do i need to talk, write, and even speak English in school? Well I've found out the answer. By learning to talk, write, and read English, a person can actually be in any place at any given time without any difficulty. So anyone can survive the very least. That's what i think.
@allknowing (137961)
• India
25 Nov 12
It depends how ready a country is with everything a citizen requires, in the language of that country. When that is not the case it becomes necessary for everyone to equip themselves with a language that is universal and that language is English. Also sometimes one goes outside a country seeking jobs and English is the only language that will see one through.
@tecchigurl (672)
• Philippines
25 Nov 12
I think that it's good to know many languages especially to start when we are still a child. I honestly would prefer for our school to teach at least 3 languages. That will be so cool. I want to be fluent in many languages so that I can easily communicate with other people from foreign countries.
@beenice2 (2967)
• Sackville, New Brunswick
25 Nov 12
English always been the universal language across the globe, it never changed second comes French,spanish etc...I've learned english since I was a kid at school and learned it more in detail when I was older. I do think that it takes a lot of determination to want to do it. I had in mind to learn another language but for now I'm stalled too much to do and my children don't want to learn French or they will be force too like you were at school but in a different invironement. Well good job for the effort that brought fruits in learning a second language.
@subhojit10 (7375)
• India
25 Nov 12
Thanks a ton for sharing this discussion. Well i can understand your issue but i feel that learning English is as important as learning your mother tongue. I think all the websites and English being a global universally accepted language, u have to understand the basics of it from a small age. Also u should be trained in your mother language as well. Now it is very difficult to have regional websites as the websites are generally meant for all the people alike.
What say?
@Mavic123456 (21893)
• Thailand
25 Nov 12
firstly there is nothing wrong when you learn a new language. English is a Universal Language and it is an advantage when you know how to speak it. They were already established nations and nothing can really put them down. Not because of the patriotism but the way they manage their country back then. We didn't how hard it was for them to be able to reach where they are now. Most of them are now engaged to learn the English as I have said it is the Universal Language. That's why they hire native English speakers to teach the language. Believe me they pay so much for these teachers.
@xqqzyu (12)
• United States
25 Nov 12
Hi,friend,I'm a Chinese who live in Los Angeles now.In my country,
students started learning English since their primary school.English
is important as a required courses.The university entrance exam is
including English,Chinese,Math and one major they choose.We spend
a long time in learning English,and for me is about 17 years.
Chinese students need to pass many English exam in order to get
their degree as well.