Spanish, French fever grips youngsters

Gurvinder Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 13

Pay a close attention to kid’s conversation and chances are you won’t be able to understand them. More and more children have enrolled themselves to learn foreign languages to compete with their global counterparts.

Even before turning 10, kids have started to learn and speak international languages, including French and Spanish.

The push is partly because foreign languages are taught at some of the schools which give better exposure in this competitive era.

“Learning foreign language gives children a head-start when it comes to gaining international exposure. Moreover, children should be exposed to foreign languages at the earliest,” said a parent.

Vivan Gupta (10), who has earned a certificate from the French Embassy wants to get admission at a reputed school in Bangalore.

Divya Oswal, director, Oswal Educare said, “It is a well-known fact that learning a new language is easy at young age. Students absorb facts naturally and pressure of studies is much less at this point of time.”

Researchers world over have suggested that learning new languages makes one smarter. “Students travel to various parts of the world under student exchange programme and their ability to communicate in foreign language act as an added advantage,” said a language teacher.

Sarabjit Singh, a parent, who has enrolled his child in French classes said, “Learning international languages, especially Spanish and French gives an edge to kids and also develops a cosmopolitan outlook.”