Originally posted by Lara Joelle Kent:
What surprises me, though, is that the US don't make at least one foreign language mandatory. Here in Germany, when I went to school, people had to take at least one foreign language, two for the best possible kind of school leaving certificate (Abitur). The first foreign language was taught from 5th grade to 10th (at least), and a second was offered - in my school mandatory - in 7th grade. We could take a third foreign language in 9th grade and a 4th in 11th.
There's several reasons I think for this. I think primarily (pride aside- for some reason Americans tend to believe that we don't need to learn any other language because everyone else learns English :rolleyes: ) it's because we teach language all wrong in our schools. Now my high school did require language, but only a year- and in a year, you barely learn how to say basic phrases! I took two and half years of French in high school (because most colleges require at least 2 years), and it's been almost four years since the last of my French, but I can't speak or understand it fluently! (And I've always been quick to pick up languages- we just don't get exposed to foreign languages enough for it to stick.) It's a flaw in the system (one of many, unfortunately).
I can't find the proving picture right now, but in one episode, early on in season 1 (I think) Lois reads a german newspaper. So she must know enough German to read an article.
Don't remember. I think I do remember her picking up something in French (again, French student here). So she probably did pick one up- I don't know if that means she can read it or not, though.
Time to go a-hunting.
