The English Language

Before we came to Vietnam, we had been told that many of the younger generations could speak English fairly well. A Vietnamese student must pick a language, English or French, to learn in school. Starting in 6th grade, they spend hours a week learning that language, so by the time they have graduated, they have spent 7 years learning that language. In addition to that, they must also have two years of the language they didn't choose. For example, by the time I graduated I would have 7 years of English and 2 years of French.  They have been teaching this way since Mitchell's dad, Loc, was growing up.

(Mitchell's Little Cousin's Favorite Show, Phineas and Ferb)

This generation however, has an even greater advantage, T.V.. Last night, we were eating supper with Mitchell's whole family. He has a little 5 year old cousin that has just started school. She spent most of the night asking and answering questions in English. Amazing to me! How did she learn? In her class at school they watch the Disney Channel, which is still in English here, 3 hours a week. She had picked up enough English from watching English t.v. shows to speak simple sentences, understand our simple questions, and answer them in English. This begs the question, "How should we be teaching our American students to speak Spanish or any other language?"