Hacker News Reader

Comment by DasIch | Hacker News Reader

Is that really that unusual? All foreign languages are taught this way in German schools.

I don't recall my first years in Germany, learning English. Do they really start by speaking English only? And .. I don't know, explaining words by pointing at things etc? I .. don't remember. I do know that most of my English classes were held in English and completely so, but I forgot the beginning..

I spent a year in Israel and wanted to learn the language (spoiler: I failed). The language courses (Ulpan) there started in Hebrew on day one. I knew not a single word. It was pointing at things, using your hands and .. a new language.

I liked the concept and I do like the language, even though I never made it.

Yes they do. Currently at least in NRW English lessons start in 2nd grade of primary school, so we are talking about 6-8 year old children. So you have to keep in mind that they aren't (all) able to fluently read and write in their native language.

Thanks a lot. That's actually the state I live in (and was raised in). Guess I'm clueless, because my little ones are still 4-6 years too young for me to worry or care about those primary school programs. :-)

During my time we started with English in 5th grade/at age 11 I think. And I'm still having trouble believing that these lessons were English only / full immersion right from the start, but .. I wouldn't know anymore, tbh.

Again, thanks for enlightening me.

> Is that really that unusual?

In the US, yes. Or, at the very least, at my high school.

The other classes had weekly vocab quizes and grammar tests, with English instruction, whereas we learned German... in German.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com