Forum Topic

Language article on news page

Maybe I'm just having a day of being very suspicious and on edge about all incoming information but I found the article irritating.Children in this country don't learn languages as children even now as far as I know. The teaching always waited till the child was at a self conscious age around 12. Added to that many children never hear another language  as they grow up.As to the languages spoken here the description seems strange. Polish? I've heard it all my life from those who stayed on after the war (think Polish War Memorial) and the Church at the top of Ravenna Rd with services in Polish and then those who came after the Berlin Wall came down and provided so many much needed trades and skills. I've been happy to work with Polish colleagues over many years.Another example is Portuguese. Brazilian Portuguese here is really rather more frequent than these figures show.Maybe I'm just being suspicious but it does make me question why should anyone highlight an immigrant issue in the middle of a run up to an election?

Katrina Black ● 2536d5 Comments

My son is ten and has been learning Latin and French at school for a couple of years now. Plus one of the schools around here, Hotham? has a specialist French intake or something?

Matt Palmer ● 2536d

Hello Katrina,I have read you message a few times now and cannot decide (yet) if your "anger" is about languages, immigration or politics.I was brought up in an environment where people spoke at least 2 languages fluently.  I certainly do, but am not that good with another two languages.I had many moons ago an amazingly gifted colleague at work who spoke 8 languages fluently - and could speak to local people with their local accents...  He even taught himself Russian by studying the English translation of Anna Karenina with the Russian version next to it....Why did PutneySW15 publish this article?  I do not know for sure, trying to show diversity in London SW15?Does it have a political message behind it?  I do not know, but I did not find it unusually questionable.I am always amazed at the fluency of language from Nordic countries.  Their English is absolutely amazing!

Ivonne Holliday ● 2536d

Apologies. My post became a rant. My head was buzzing with all the incoming info on the use and misuse of normally reliable sources of information and how they are being mistreated by political parties. Humour gets the point across so much better!

Katrina Black ● 2534d

Private schools do teach foreign languages from earlier ages than 12, not so sure about state schools though.

Lucille Grant ● 2534d

Two Putney state primaries (Hotham and OLV) teach French from reception or year 1. No idea about the others.https://www.hothamprimaryschool.org.uk/Learning-and-enrichment/French/

Alex Greenbank ● 2534d