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Bad teaching is the enemy

The problem is not that English is being taught in kindergartens, but that it is being taught in kindergartens poorly ("Ministry cracks down on kindergartens," Feb. 10, page 1).

This situation might improve if the Ministry of Education decided to regulate this already enormous industry instead of trying to stifle it for the wrong reasons.

In the article, Minister of Education Huang Jong-tsun (黃榮村) is paraphrased as saying preschool children should learn their mother tongue before learning a second language to ensure they develop a "sound body and mind." But many children learn Mandarin and Hoklo [also known as Taiwanese] simultaneously without difficulty. Why would English, a much more distinct language, be any different?

I have never heard of a survey which indicated that studying a second language caused an unsound body or mind. However, I can quote many studies which show that only those students who start at a very young age are able to speak without an accent. I can also cite studies which show that bilingual children are able to learn two languages well within the age by which most children can learn one. My own daughter did, as did some of my students.

Eight years ago I taught an English-immersion program. Students learned music, physical education, art and other subjects -- but all were in English.

The students acquired the language almost without realizing it. Now these same students are in junior high and I am teaching them again. When compared to other students, their listening and speaking ability is phenomenally better. And none of them seem to have suffered from unsound bodies or minds. In fact, they look back at their kindergarten years fondly.

Why would the Ministry of Education shut down effective, well-run programs like the one I taught? Don't such programs support President Chen Shui-bian's (陳水扁) proposal to make English the second national language? Couldn't they be part of government reforms that have public schools teaching English in the first grade?

In an earlier article, Huang is quoted as saying, "We'd like to see preschoolers start learning English." ("English to be made official," May 1, 2002; page 2). When did he change his mind?

Perhaps the problem is not preschool English, but shoddy preschool English programs which, in any language, could harm children. If so, what is needed is regulation, not total condemnation.

The ministry could set some realistic guidelines based on credible research. These guidelines could serve as reference for concerned parents and schools. Once tested and proven, they could become law -- a law that works and lets effective programs produce accent-free, bilingual students.

Nathan Lindberg
Changhua

Doing poorly by Iruan

I want to express my concern for 8-year-old Iruan Ergui Wu who was lovingly raised in Brazil for his first five years and who was kept in Taiwan for almost three years. I truly believe that if Taiwan wants to be recognized as its own country, it should start by considering the human rights of this child.

It is a shame that your media and officials were so rude to Iruan's grandmother -- his legal guardian -- for the years that he was in your country. Was it necessary that the whole of Brazil had to rally to come to her defense?

Though justice was on her side, she still went to court in Taiwan out of respect for Taiwanese law. And even after she had her beloved grandson taken away from her, she was humble enough to respect your people and your customs.

Brazilian authorities readily issued visas to the Taiwanese relatives who wanted to visit Iruan when he was here, but Taiwan's government and several politicians adopted a rude and aggressive stance towards Brazilian officials right from the very start.

Brazilians are a kind people. Every year people from all around the world visit our country. Although we have our problems, most people who visit can barely bring themselves to leave after falling in love with our country and our people.

Regina Murakami
Brazil
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