Should students be segregated by the language they speak? I don't agree.
By kbkbooks
@kbkbooks (7022)
Canada
March 12, 2007 12:48pm CST
In Quebec, Canada, the law requires that all children receive French language as part of their education. The law says that if one of your parents was educated in Quebec in English you can go to the English school. However if you are an immigrant child or your parents were educated in French in Quebec you must go to the French school. The idea of this is essentially to drive languages other than French out of the province. The French are afraid they will lose their culture and their language if they don't protect it. The English school teaches everything in English except of course French as a second language.
By my way of thinking, the best way to preserve culture and language would be to integrate French and English students. They would teach each other by socializing and learning together. I don't think that segregation is healthy whether it is for culture, colour, or language. Children naturally are bonded together by their generational similarities. They see beyond surface differences that adults use to isolate others.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@wenfri (1185)
• Canada
12 Mar 07
Wow That is quite the subject you chosen to post.
I am from Ontario and my boys attended a Catholic School
They had no option for language French was thrown at the them in grade 1 No choices. If I would have wanted them to learn French I would send them to French Immersion school
Don't get me wrong a 2nd language is a nice thing to learn Helps them alot in future. I know from myself I learnt to speak German. Not via school either Married one LOL
Quebec is doing a awesome job of keeping their French intact
I know for a fact that they fine anyone who posts an English sign Even if they include the French first.
Quebec is the only Canadian province I know that refuses to post English reading traffic signs Everywhere else it French and English Just is NOT right
The only place where you can go and they refuse to speak English Even if we attempt to speak French first. Gotten into the habit of going into restaurants, motels etc and speaking German just so they will search common language which is English of course
Segreation is not healthy I agree Children will pick all sorts of things in their own time I mean my grandkids are slowly picking up bits and pieces of German language which I think is great
Wendy
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
12 Mar 07
Part of your response sounds like you support the fact that they don't allow English in places, but I am pretty sure you agree with me. I think that bilingual or multilingual culture is an excellent way for children to grow up. I believe in tolerance and acceptance. I think the fact that it is actually against the law to post English or other language signs is very wrong. I think in places like Chinatown Montreal or other cultural gathering places, the native languages should not be forbidden.
1 person likes this
@kbkbooks (7022)
• Canada
13 Mar 07
Actually by population, Chinese is probably spoken by more people in the world than English. I have a friend who says he hates rice and hopes there isn't any in heaven but I remind him that there are a large number of Chinese Christians in China and in North America. We can't have things the way we want them in life or later! We might as well learn to all get along.
@wenfri (1185)
• Canada
13 Mar 07
No I can't say as I agree with the statement that the don't allow English in some places. I mean English is the universal language Right?
I have to agree that multi-lingual is teffific option for kids. They will pick it up when and if they want to
Sometimes adults can be so prejudice about some things Makes me ill just to think about it.
Is definitely wrong not to posts signs both in English or whatever the chosen language of that Country. But Quebec does it. Not right at all It isn't like they are a seperate country They are part of Canada a sperate province not a country. They should abide like the rest of us have to
Sorry got off on tangent LOL
Native languaes should never forbidden anywhere agreed
Wendy
1 person likes this
@BunGirl (2638)
• United States
12 Mar 07
I really couldn't agree more. Here in Texas some schools are separating the hispanic kids out into classes taught in Spanish. I think it's a huge disservice to the kids. Why not teach all the kids the same way? Around here, in order to get a good job, they'll need to learn English anyway. Why not just start them in English from the beginning???
2 people like this
@lvap0628 (731)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
I think it's to a student's advantage to be bilingual and learn about other cultures aside from their own. They can emulate the good and discard the bad. However, whether the French agree or not, English is the international language today. Maybe this is why not too many immigrants want to go to Quebec. One of the requirements is to at least have basic to moderate knowledge of the French language.
@joyce959 (1559)
• Philippines
12 Mar 07
I disagree to that idea of segregating students in terms of language they speak. Here in phils, when there are foreign students enrolling in the school or university, they are mixed with phil students. Its better for the students to get along or associate with other students of different nationality and language.
If its the law there in Quebec to segregate students, then you can't do anything than to follow, unless of course that law is repealed. If you do not want the system, then what you can do is to transfer to another province in Canada.
