The Family's Experiment in Extreme Schooling

News Link :

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/magazine/my-familys-experiment-in-extreme-schooling.html?pagewanted=1&ref=general&src=me

Video :

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/09/15/magazine/100000001040165/an-education.html

This article is based on an educational issue on whether learning a foreign language through complete immersion is better than using one's native tongue. A father was sent to Russia to become a foreign correspondent for the New York Times and therefore, he decided to move his wife and three children from Brooklyn to Moscow. At first, none of them could speak Russian at all, so it was really difficult especially for the children to fit in at school. Most of the other foreign correspondents have placed their children in international schools where they can speak their native tongue. However, the author, Clifford Levy, decided to place his children in an all Russian speaking school and see if they would be able to pick up the language naturally since he thought that children learn languages quickly. These children were put in New Humanitarian, a private school with 150 or so pupils and small classes. It is a school that has promised an enlightened and innovative interpretation of the classic Soviet education. The children struggled as they first started at the school. However, after some time with extra help and more training, these kids have become adapted to the place with more confidence. After a year staying in Russia, it is amazing how these kids were mistaken for natives. It is surprising for children like them to pick up a foreign language so fast. The fluency and familiarity with culture unlocked doors everywhere for the family.

The knowledge issue that is being debated here is the ability of children with a new foreign language. Is it possible for someone to learn a new language the same way they learnt their first language? In this article, language is a big part of their adaption to a foreign place, Russia. For any kid so used to speaking English, suddenly being forced to understand and speak Russian would definitely be difficult. The first response of these children would be depression and bewilderment. These emotions pass through them as they first interact in a different culture with a new language. As they see more, hear more and speak more, they become more comfortable and confident around the new place they're settling in. Perception has also drawn a great role in helping them adapt to Russia.

So, the central issue is whether it is possible for one to learn a new language as they did with their native language. It is possible since just like in the article, these kids have learnt Russian as they did English. Since English was their native tongue, they speak it naturally. After they were brought to Russia, they were just thrown into an environment where they were forced to speak and learn Russian without any English cues. The argument here is based on the parents' idea that young children could learn a new language faster than adults. Nevertheless, the other side of the argument would be putting these children in an international school where they have guidance and the use of their native tongue in order to learn a foreign language. The advantage of this is that these children will feel less isolated from their own culture and they can use their native tongue to connect to the foreign language. In my opinion, I would like to learn a foreign language with a connection to my native tongue. It would not only make me feel more secure in a complete environment, but it would also benefit me in my ways of learning a new language.

This could be viewed as an opposing idea to the teaching in TAS. If you're a foreigner at TAS, you just need to know how to speak in English since all the classes are taught in English. Even if you don't have any Chinese-speaking background, you can survive in the school. TAS does have Chinese classes for foreigners and native speakers, yet they're optional. There is a requirement that you need 3 years of a foreign language in high school, yet it isn't required that you have to take Chinese. This would be an opposing case to the educational issue we discussed above since TAS is in Taiwan and it would be expected for one to know how to speak Chinese, yet this isn't the case here. The issue isn't which school is better, the focus is on the education and what one wants. At TAS, not all students will set their future in Taiwan, therefore it isn't necessary for them to know how to speak Chinese well. In New Humanitarian, the goal of the school is to let the students assimilate into Russian culture more naturally.