<![CDATA[Foreign language for children - which would you choose?]]>Dear KS Parents, I told some friends that I intend to let my kid to take up Malay lessons instead of Japanese lessons, they all give me \"wierd\" looks or ask \"are you sure??\" 😞 Am I really wasting my kid's time to learn a language which is \"not-so-useful\"? I find that Japanese isn't very much \"useful\" too rite? Nothing racist here please. Just want to hear more views... thanks.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/3895/foreign-language-for-children-which-would-you-chooseRSS for NodeMon, 04 May 2026 14:51:49 GMTWed, 04 Mar 2009 12:31:01 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Thu, 13 Apr 2023 02:59:19 GMT]]>I would opt for Malay, but only because it will allow me to know Indonesian. Indonesian is going to be very useful and much more "scalable" in the long run if you are based in Singapore, especially since Indonesia is a rising force. For German, I won’t learn it unless I have a strong personal interest for doing so (culture or to communicate with close friends etc.), or if for some reason my work needs me to be in touch with the German market. I’m also quite surprised that Spanish is lagging behind at 3rd place with a big gap between it and French, given how more people on this planet speak Spanish than English, and that Spanish is supposed to be easier to learn than French for most people.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2105249https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2105249Thu, 13 Apr 2023 02:59:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Mon, 03 May 2021 06:08:05 GMT]]>German! Or Malay.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2022323https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2022323Mon, 03 May 2021 06:08:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Mon, 03 May 2021 05:43:18 GMT]]>French!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2022321https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2022321Mon, 03 May 2021 05:43:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:31:22 GMT]]>

floppy\" post_id=\"2021954\" time=\"1619780427\" user_id=\"97579:

I would like to choose Greek. It's very popular and one of the most widely spoken language in the world. You will be able to communicate with people all over the world with Greek.
Really? a lot of pple speak Greek?
I would like to choose French

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021962https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021962Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:31:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:26:24 GMT]]>

floppy\" post_id=\"2021954\" time=\"1619780427\" user_id=\"97579:

I would like to choose Greek. It's very popular and one of the most widely spoken language in the world. You will be able to communicate with people all over the world with Greek.
😆

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021960https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021960Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:26:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:22:21 GMT]]>

floppy\" post_id=\"2021954\" time=\"1619780427\" user_id=\"97579:

I would like to choose Greek. It's very popular and one of the most widely spoken language in the world. You will be able to communicate with people all over the world with Greek.
So true.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021959https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021959Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:22:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:00:27 GMT]]>I would like to choose Greek. It’s very popular and one of the most widely spoken language in the world. You will be able to communicate with people all over the world with Greek.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021954https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2021954Fri, 30 Apr 2021 11:00:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:58:57 GMT]]>Duolingo+Drops App to learn a language for good

https://medium.com/@kelly.kkl/how-to-learn-indonesian-or-any-languages-for-free-using-apps-dd71bbe3383

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1998204https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1998204Thu, 08 Oct 2020 23:58:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Wed, 13 Nov 2019 07:24:45 GMT]]>We prefer to teach Malay to our kids too. Practical and will be useful for them when they grow up. Our second choice will be Nihonggo since our descendants are from Tokyo and Nagoya. It will be helpful if they wish to move there.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1946167https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1946167Wed, 13 Nov 2019 07:24:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 21 Sep 2019 03:25:04 GMT]]>

jliu76746\" post_id=\"1936142\" time=\"1568959325\" user_id=\"165773:

I am challenging myself to learn another foreign language so when my daughter reaches 4, I would be able to teach her a foreign tongue. I know a little Malay and Filipino because my nanny was both from Malaysia and the Philippines. I am planning to learn more about how to speak Malay since I find it very useful for me and my child if we wish to travel to a Malay speaking country.
I think the Malay language is very useful in our local context and there are plenty of opportunities to practise, which would help in the learning and retention of the language.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1936326https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1936326Sat, 21 Sep 2019 03:25:04 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Tue, 17 Jul 2018 07:26:34 GMT]]>

ssliana:
I think Malay is very useful! Probably a little easier to learn than a pictographic language too. : ) A friend of mine just finished an introductory course on it and has high praise!

Agree with this. Pity not a popular choice as compared to japanese or french.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1858209https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1858209Tue, 17 Jul 2018 07:26:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Wed, 04 Jul 2018 06:55:06 GMT]]>choose Japanese or Korean, as foreign language, is good


but MOE (language centre at Bishan) doesnt offer Korean

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1855227https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1855227Wed, 04 Jul 2018 06:55:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Wed, 04 Jul 2018 01:11:31 GMT]]>If I were to choose, I will choose English because it’s a universal language that everybody must learn.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1855130https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1855130Wed, 04 Jul 2018 01:11:31 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Tue, 26 Jun 2018 11:00:27 GMT]]>I think Malay is very useful! Probably a little easier to learn than a pictographic language too. : ) A friend of mine just finished an introductory course on it and has high praise!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1853806https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1853806Tue, 26 Jun 2018 11:00:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:46:11 GMT]]>Language courses at NUS (open to the public)


Vietnamese Programme


Thai Programme


Korean Programme


Japanese Programme


Chinese Programme


Bahasa Indonesia Programme


Arabic Programme

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1401193https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1401193Sat, 18 Oct 2014 12:46:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 02 Aug 2014 12:59:29 GMT]]>

SecDad:
I currently know 9 languages to fluency, and my son is also interested in languages, but he cannot focus on only one language. He is jumping around Japanese, Esperanto, Italian, Hebrew and Greek. Can I ask, will he, after a long period of time, be able to reach fluency?

Are you an EU citizen? My overseas cousins from EU had to study 7 languages (Latin, English, French, German, Dutch, Italian and Spanish) in Pr and Sec Sch. But they're not very proficient in most of them today in their adulthood, except Eng plus the official language of their country of birth, and possibly a third one if: a) they are dating a foreigner; b) working for the European Commission or United Nations Geneva; or c) working in a German/French MNC.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1349953https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1349953Sat, 02 Aug 2014 12:59:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 02 Aug 2014 07:14:07 GMT]]>

SecDad:
I currently know 9 languages to fluency, and my son is also interested in languages, but he cannot focus on only one language. He is jumping around Japanese, Esperanto, Italian, Hebrew and Greek. Can I ask, will he, after a long period of time, be able to reach fluency?

9 languages??? :yikes:

:udaman:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1349744https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1349744Sat, 02 Aug 2014 07:14:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 02 Aug 2014 03:11:58 GMT]]>I currently know 9 languages to fluency, and my son is also interested in languages, but he cannot focus on only one language. He is jumping around Japanese, Esperanto, Italian, Hebrew and Greek. Can I ask, will he, after a long period of time, be able to reach fluency?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1349570https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1349570Sat, 02 Aug 2014 03:11:58 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sun, 30 Jun 2013 14:12:32 GMT]]>I am interested to let my daughters to learn Thai and German. Any body can recommend me ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1026772https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1026772Sun, 30 Jun 2013 14:12:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:50:50 GMT]]>My 6+ year old daughter took Mandarin since K1 but she opted for Malay during Pri Sch. Shes still learning Mandarin & Arabic on a weekly basis. Having said that, anyone here keen on language swap? I can coach you and/or your child Malay for free on a regular basis and in return im hoping you can do the same for mine. We live ard Holland Village. Tks.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/981580https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/981580Sat, 06 Apr 2013 21:50:50 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:23:25 GMT]]>

phtthp:
think German and France are mature economy.

not sure if useful to learn German or French ?
Many jobs in international organisations like united nations, interpol and international Olympics committee still use both English and French as working languages. You can see the list here
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_organisations_which_have_French_as_an_official_language

French is also useful because it is very easy to learn Spanish, Portuguese and Italian after you have mastered French. But it doesn't work the other way around - Spanish speakers have greater difficulty learning French than French speakers to learn Spanish because French is more complex and has much more difficult rules. Knowledge of spanish , Portuguese is very useful if you want to break into emerging economies like argentina and Brazil. Knowledge of French is useful for working in Africa - and there are many jobs there which pays very, very well especially in mining and commodities if you are open to the risk.

German is useful because the richest european countries are German speaking - Germany, Austria, Switzerland. Languages of other richer european countries like netherlands, Denmark and to a lesser extent Norway, Sweden are also closely related to German. In the emerging eastern European countries like Poland, knowledge of German is far more useful than English or French. German is also a popular language among engineering students because most of the leaders in engineering are German companies - SAP, Daimler, Bosch to name a few, all of whom have a large presence in Singapore.

That said, I personally think it is more useful to learn a regional language like malay, Thai or Vietnamese.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/927129https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/927129Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:23:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:01:55 GMT]]>

karenmok:
So which of the Indian languages is useful to learn? India is soon becoming an economic powerhouse.

Most Indians in politics and business use English as a working language hence Hindi is not a popular language for foreigners to learn.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/927119https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/927119Tue, 01 Jan 2013 01:01:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sun, 16 Dec 2012 09:00:49 GMT]]>think German and France are mature economy.

not sure if useful to learn German or French ?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/919049https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/919049Sun, 16 Dec 2012 09:00:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Foreign language for children - which would you choose? on Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:28:15 GMT]]>I think you should let your kid decide based on what they like and not for some end itself. What you predict will happen usually won’t happen 80% of the time. That’s why human has so much mental clutter and not using their brains fully. Better let them be present with their heart and mind. Fret not.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/918812https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/918812Sat, 15 Dec 2012 11:28:15 GMT