Foreign Language in Elementary School

Good morning!

Once again, we must start with the question, does the study of foreign language equip a student for service in the Kingdom of God?

The answer to that question depends on the language being studied and the calling of the student. The two most widely useful languages for study today are Biblical Greek and Spanish. Biblical Greek enables the student to study the New Testament in its original language, and Spanish allows the student to effectively witness to the growing number of Spanish speakers in this country, and not just the English speakers.

Elementary school is the best time to introduce a foreign language, since ability to learn a new language declines exponentially as we age. Since an elementary school child usually does not know his calling yet, I plan on teaching my young students Biblical Greek. Biblical Greek is only essential for those who wish to be preachers, evangelists or theologians, but is undoubtedly very useful for everyone who wishes to study the word of God (and we all should). Thus, studying Biblical Greek provides the most advantage for whatever calling my children pursue. Hey Andrew! Teach Me Some Greek is a nice text, and the one I plan to use. It is designed to start in Kindergarten, a rare thing for foreign language texts, and builds slowly to a thorough knowledge of the language. It also employs a copybook of the Gospel of John, so the text of the Bible is used to learn the language.

When the child reaches middle school or high school and is beginning to discover his calling, we will add a foreign language that serves this calling. Biblical Hebrew is useful for those going into the ministry, Japanese for businessmen and engineers, German (perhaps) for engineers, Russian/Arabic for military, Italian for musicians, Latin for the medical profession or for biologists, etc.

If a child has a calling that does not benefit from knowing a foreign language (shopkeeper? plumber? I am having a hard time thinking of any) he does not have to study a foreign language, and should not if it is taking time away from necessary studies. Most states and colleges require two years of foreign language for every student, no matter their vocation. To satisfy that requirement I would suggest Spanish, for the evangelism opportunities it affords. Our children will already know Spanish, having been taught it from birth by their father, who is half Cuban.

Classical Greek and Latin used to be the languages of scholarship and religion, but since that is no longer true, they are of little use and should not be focused on. English grammar and vocabulary can be learned without spending years studying Latin. The only exception to this would be those who are called to the medical or biological fields which have their own large vocabulary of words lifted directly from Latin.

We should always remeber that we are studying foreign language, not to be superior to the monolingual, or to be multi-cultural, but as a tool for subduing the earth to the glory of Almighty God.