Teach first-graders a second language

Ever since the birth of language, no man or women has ever attempted to break the language barrier. Different languages have diverted into many sections of the earth and young students in Europe and Asia have begun to become either bilingual or even trilingual. A common joke told around is "Trilingual means people that speak three languages and bilingual are people that speak two languages and people that speak one language are called Americans."

This joke shows how behind Americans are when it comes to speaking different languages.

Students should learn a second language beginning in first grade rather than in high school when they are at the age where the brain begins to slow down a learning process. First-graders, although they may not seem so, are smart; they soak in what they learn like sponge.

In order to break language barriers in America, the education system should be stricter on teaching a secondary language to younger students starting at first grade.

Jonathan Cho

Carpentersville