The Portuguese town of Sao Joao da Madeira has recently made learning Mandarin compulsive for children 8 and 9 years old. This town has a large shoe industry and most of these children will end up making shoes or working for footwear companies. By mandating that children learn Mandarin, authorities hope that they will be able to work with or in China, whose footwear market is the biggest in the world. I think that it is good that these children are given this opportunity so early in their education, so that they can continue to use Mandarin throughout life and in their careers. The unemployment rate throughout Portugal is 13.6%, so it makes sense to give these children some way to succeed in the highly competitive job market. In early 1800s America, during the slave trade, slaves were forced to learn English and could not continue speaking their native languages. This could be seen as a historical connection because the children have no choice on whether or not they want to learn Mandarin. On the other hand, I think that this is much more like Reconstruction where the freedmen were finally allowed to learn English and most of them pursued it happily. What do you think? Is it right to make learning a language non-native to your country mandatory? Should the children be able to choose?
I don't think that the children would really be capable of making an educated decision on their own of whether or not to learn another language. I feel like most of them would turn it down - learning a new language takes time and effort that kids would rather spend playing. So I do think it's a great idea that they learn a new language. However, just as long as the children are able to continue speaking their native language, as the slaves were not allowed to during the slave trade. This is a wonderful opportunity for the children to learn Mandarin, and it will definitely benefit them throughout their lives.
ReplyDeleteI agree that compulsory education makes sense for elementary schoolers, but don't you think they should have more options than just Mandarin?
DeleteBy allowing the children to learn a secondary language, does help in giving them a better shot to thrive in the future. Since the unemployment rate is so high in Portugal, this is definitely a step towards fixing this. However, since most children do end up working in the footwear market, what about the other kids that do not end up like this? As time does continue on with this idea, Portugal will have the new generation thinking that the footwear market is their main path. Perhaps later on this will change.
ReplyDeleteBy learning this second language at such a young age does allow them to help in the job competitiveness in their country. I think this will allow them to be a couple of steps ahead of everyone else. What Portugal also needs to focus on is, what if the kids want to find other jobs then those working in the shoe factories. They also may need to rethink this idea very carefully and maybe reevaluate it.
ReplyDeleteBy allowing the kids learn a new language at a young age gives them an ability that can get a job easier with the competitiveness in their country. I think this will makes the kids a few steps ahead of everyone else. Portugal needs to focus on what the kids should work in other than shoe factories.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Parisa in the sense that the children are far too young to truly be able to make the decision for themselves. At that point, they are unaware as to what they want to do with their lives. However, learning mandarin will be useful for them because learning a new language and having the ability to communicate with more people of different backgrounds builds connections.As long as the children are not forced to quit learning their native language and practicing their culture, learning mandarin can only benefit them.
ReplyDeleteBy allowing kids to learn a new language at a young age gives them an advantage in society. I think that this will give kids more opportunities and it will put them ahead of other kids. I believe that the kids should have a choice on what language they wanna learn.
ReplyDeleteI think that in many cases, making a secondary language mandatory to your country is a good idea. I think it's especially good in this case because it is being enforced at a young age, and the children are likely to retain the information they learn. As far as if they should have a choice or not, I think it should be mandatory for about 2 years in elementary school so that they can have a basic understanding of the language. After that, they should be given the choice to continue or not.
ReplyDeleteThis is a positive step for Portugal to improve its economy. Knowing more than one language really becomes handy when you get into a professional career in society. For me, knowing more than 2 languages have helped me a lot throughout my life. This action by their government will only benefit them, and it will encourage them to learn more languages. Since they are young, their brain absorbs information faster, and they can learn easier.
ReplyDeleteI believe that when the people of Portugal allow their children to learn Mandarin, it potentially opens doors for them in the future with business opportunities etc. Through learning a non-native language, it provides the children to communicate with far more people out there then they would have with maybe just one language alone. It is (like other types of skills) good to start at a young age, and I believe Portugal recognized that in educating their people when they are young. Also, the children, as said before by other people, are sometimes too young to choose on their own. I believe that as long as the child keeps their native language in tack, the child should learn the language at least to the point where they truly know if they want to continue or pursue something else.
ReplyDeleteI think that allowing children to take up another language in order to benefit them is actually something very good. Though I can't help but feel that they deserve a choice on whether or not they want to learn the language, however considering that they are 9-10 years of age they don't seem completely capable of making their own decisions quite yet. More so learning a new language is always beneficial and opens more doors to opportunities and in this case is what these children are striving for.
ReplyDeleteThere is nothing wrong with compulsory English classes for young non-native English speakers. At my middle school, the 8th graders were in the situation with Spanish class. Around the world, there are other kids in the same situation with English. We are forced to learn these new languages because communication unites people. Besides, there is nothing wrong with growing up bilingual and if they are going to be forced to learn a second language, it might as well be earlier rather than later since younger kids learn these things at a faster pace. Being able to speak more than one language has also been linked to better performance in learning.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is good that the children are required to learn mandarin. A lot of people who have immigrated to the US from foreign countries had to learn english in order to live successfully. It is the same in this case. Learning mandarin will help these kids in the future because they will be working in a place where the main language is mandarin. another example is how we as high schoolers are required to take a 2 year language course. By pursuing this requirement, we learn how to speak other languages which can be a helpful contributor in getting a into a good college or getting a good job
ReplyDeleteI support this decision to teach the children mandarin. It may seem tedious to them, but when they are adults they will realize the significance of their language education. It's the same thing here at Aragon. We are forced to take two years but encouraged to take 3-4. When it comes to jobs, knowing other languages can be very advantageous. When slaves were forced to learn English, they may not have noticed it, but learning English helped them in so many ways. Sadly, the children in this article, if given the choice, would likely not pursue language because as stated above, it takes time and dedication which many children would prefer to place elsewhere. Thus, overall, it is a very wise decision to force the children to learn mandarin.
ReplyDeleteIts good that they are being prepared for a job they are most likely to be in but also wrong maybe because they should have the choice to be what they want to be, rather than working in a a factory if they really think they can be something else than that.
ReplyDeleteI think these kids should learn Mardarin because they are too young to know what kind of job they will want after they finish school, and even if they don't end up wanting to work in China it's good that they have that to fall back on. As long as they aren't being forced into these jobs when they're older, I think it's beneficial to give them that option.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Alton, I do believe that it is good that children are having a chance to learn a language so they have more opportunities In life; however, forcing something big, like a whole new language, is pretty harsh. No one should be forced to do something they don't want to do. I do think that learning the language is good but the fact that it isn't their choice but they should, over powers it. People, even kids, should have their own say in things.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that it is good for them to learn another language since it will give them a lot more opportunities in the future. I do not think that it is harsh on the children since they are young and it is easier on them when learning a new language. I also don't agree that they should have a choice since they are children. They can't make decisions now that will help them in the future.
ReplyDeleteI think that Portugal has great intentions, but they shouldn't make it mandatory, just offer it at their school and perhaps encourage it. I think forcing anyone to do anything will eventually come back to bite them in the butt, and even if not I think its a human right to decide whether they should learn something or not. I do see their points though and I think it's great that they are thinking of these children's futures, but hopefully they recognize them as human and not just future jobs that could boos their economy.
ReplyDeleteI think that it provides the children with a great opportunity for their futures, but I agree with people above that it should not have to be mandatory. They should decide for themselves, or their families should choose for them to learn another language. They should have their own choice even as kids.
ReplyDeleteI think that it shouldn't be mandatory, the children shouldn't have to be forced to. But it could be use for something good in their future, but ii agree with Arianna, i think they should be able to decide on their on what language they want to learn or which one they don't. Regardless of their age.
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is good that children are being taught a language that they would be able to speak if the situation called for it. I don't believe that they should be taught other languages ONLY to work for a shoe company. If they wanted to do something else, it would benefit the children for knowing another tongue. They shouldn't be filled with things they will be forced to do. They should grow up doing what they want to do not forced to do
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