Folks, for the past few months, I have been reading, listening, and watching on TV (occasionally) the controversy surrounding the NB government’s decision to pull the plug on early French immersion in public schools. People have been freaking out saying that it’s horrible because it’s too hard for kids to learn the second language later, and that kids should start learning both languages right away. I read yet another article today that tried to justify the need for the early immersion because it helped people shape kids thought processes, and I just need to get my own feelings out and have my say. So here’s a little rant about my thoughts on French immersion.
First off, I was never in French immersion. That’s because I was born in Edmonton Alberta where French is a language that no one really cares about. It wasn’t until I went into the 7th grade that I had to learn any French. I struggled at first but eventually I made it through and took French all the way through grade 12. I was never a great French speaker, but I did good in school, and I probably could fake my way through a conversation if I really tried.
I never had an interest in French and I never will. I have been living in Moncton now for more than 20 years and not being able to speak French has not hurt me a lot. Yes, there have been a few instances where being able to speak it fluently would have been helpful, but I have never really felt hindered by it. I have however seen the direct result of what happens when young people are forced two learn things in two languages, especially when one of them is one that’s not spoken at home.
I have friends, and family members, who are all English, but they have been exposed to French through school since they were a kid. They are smart people, do well in life, and are generally happy folks. However, their spelling, grammar, and general English skills suck. Most of the people I know that were raised in a pure English family and pure English schooling have far better English skills than those who have been in immersion.
No, I have not conducted tests, or done studies, or any of that stuff. But I have seen it with my own two eyes. What do I think is the cause? I believe that although it is easy for the youth to learn multiple languages, how can you possibly expect anyone to learn two languages, and be completely adept at both, without one of those languages suffering?
If you are raised in an English family, speaking English, with no French, and you throw a kid into immersion, that kid is going to be lost. But, like all kids, they pick up on things and learn very quickly. Even at 7.5 months, I’m seeing that in Dylan. But can you honestly say you are going to thrive in your primary language when half, if not more than half, of your school time is spent in another language? You’ll become great at speaking and knowing French because you hear it all day at school. But what about proper grammar, spelling, and pronunciation of your primary language? Are you going to learn most of that at home? No. We learn all of that stuff in school.
Ya, ok, a lot of that comes from “English” class but let’s face it, with having to write reports, do projects, and all of that kind of stuff, you learn even more about your native tongue by using the language. If you’re always using a language that isn’t your own, your own language is going to miss out.
The bottom line is, I don’t want my kids to be bilingual when they are only going to be “so-so” in both languages. I would rather them be very strong in one language and then work on another one later. Yes, it is harder to learn other languages as you get older, but if you want it bad enough, you can learn.
There’s also another side to this which has nothing to with French really. Children today are brought up in a world of instant messages, texting, spell check and online lingo. Things like “wat’s up?”, “wer u at?”, “dat’s kul” are more and more common to see in day to day communication via the internet. Kids are so used to writing in that fashion that if they do not get the proper reinforcement of REAL grammar, they will get accustomed to writing and maybe even talking that way. If the focus is on the second language, then you’ll find more kids skipping grammar and spelling in English for the easier “internet” ways of communicating. On top of that, the kids are doing book reports and other writing assignments in English generally on computers now. They all have grammar and spell check which means that they can slack off with those and not worry about it. That doesn’t happen with French. How many of you have used a French spell check in Word? I am guessing not many. The students are made to concentrate more on the second language, and not worry about the primary, because they speak it and write it at home, or use a computer to fix their mistakes. If they get used to that, then that means their native tongue suffers while they can speak a language their parents may not understand.
Another reason why people say it’s SO important to be bilingual is because of where we live. Yes, NB, particularly Moncton, is definitely heavy on the French. So heavy at times it pisses me off. But yes, there is a lot of French here and I will not disagree that knowing how to speak the language can be helpful. But, do I think that not being able to speak it is a major disadvantage in this city? No I don’t. At one time I may have thought differently but now that I have gotten a little older, I think the idea that you have to be bilingual in Moncton is just not the case anymore.
If you work in the service industry, it helps, but countless people are being hired everyday who will sell you the jeans off the rack and they can’t speak French. McJobs everywhere have never required you to speak French. Those style jobs, which people always say you should be bilingual for, have always looked for people regardless of whether you can speak French or not. It’s about WHERE you are in this city, not WHAT you do. I mean come on, if you’re gonna work in Champlain Place, speaking French will probably help. If you’re working at a restaurant in Riverview, it won’t be a big deal.
If you look at “career” type jobs, where does speaking French give you a huge advantage in this city? Manufacturing, art, IT, accounting, construction, management, sciences, music, politics, history, real estate, health care. They all have careers that don’t need French. Ok, if you’re going to be a teacher in Moncton, French might be helpful. If you’re going to sell real estate in Dieppe, it might be helpful. But the fact of the matter is that there are virtually no career paths that die at a dead end because you can’t speak French. Unless you want to be a translator. Beyond that, it’s not a deal breaker.
A lot of parents would say something to the effect “Don’t you want your kids to have as much knowledge and opportunity as possible” thinking that giving them another language is the key to it. I wasn’t in French immersion and I’ve had some pretty kick ass opportunities and I’m doing quite well for myself now. I have English speaking friends who all have done very well without the need for French. Yes, of course I want the best for my kids, but for me, that doesn’t mean they have to learn French.
To me it means they learn to communicate in multiple mediums, in the language they know. The language they were raised in. I would rather my son be able to write eloquent poems and books in English than sub-par text in two languages. I want him to be able to sit down and write out an actual letter, or even an email, and know what he is writing is clear and concise, and not have his head clouded with confusing how things are done in French, versus English.
So that being said, I’m all for parents who want their kids in immersion, I just don’t happen to be one of them.
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