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Op/Ed: British Columbia Parents to press to expand Mandarin-based classes

by Barry Artiste | September 29, 2008 at 09:40 am

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Barry Artiste Op/Ed

Like I had previously mentioned in my last column on this issue in what I feel is a "Let's Drive French out of our Canadian Lexicon".

I have no problem with kids learning the Mandarin language, but the kids better have a good understanding and fluency of French and English as our Official Language before entering a new Language.

Kids have a tough enough time today just getting through school without the added pressure of taking on another language.

If my tax dollars are needed for this, I say forget it, let em learn Mandarin in College on their own Dime, Not Mine~!

Parents press to expand Mandarin-based classesAllison Cross, Vancouver SunPublished: Monday, September 29, 2008
Bilingual Mandarin-language kindergartens should be established in Vancouver public schools to give children an edge in the global community, says a group of Vancouver parents.

"In terms of language learning, at the kindergarten level, there are only two choices: English and French," said Eileen Sue, a member of B.C. Parents for Mandarin.

"We do feel that children learn languages best before the age of nine. They are language sponges." Learning Mandarin will give children an edge, helping them better compete with European students who regularly learn English on top of their native languages in school, she said.

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eastvanray

at 10:33 on September 30th, 2008

Last I checked the true "value" of learning French in school was to be able to understand the broadcasts of Habs home games on CBC French. Let them learn a second language that will actually do them some good in th real world not the artificial one created by P.E. Trudeau.

Barry Artiste

at 18:05 on September 30th, 2008

Thanks for the comments East Van, Okay, granted you need to understand Hab games, but more importantly French is part of our Culture and Country, one would wonder if English were being replaced with Mandarin instead of French would Canadians sing a different tune, Besides EastVan, how the Hell are we going to understand Dion with a jaunty French accent, fer Christs Sake!

Remember the Monty Python Anthem "I Like Chinese"~google it.