Language Training Options

[CBW137Y]

Just thinking about something I've posted in another thread....

Languages, and the teaching of languages in schools.

Why is the UK education system so behind with the teaching of languages in schools? Why is Latin still elitist (let's face it, you get Latin figured, and the rest falls into place), and why do children not learn French properly in primary education?

Sorry - am sounding like a child now with all the "why" questions, but when I recently went into the supermarket in Luxembourg to buy a new telephone, I asked one of the young members of the sales staff if he spoke english (in my very best French), and he said yes, and we went on to have a conversation about language education and the fact that he speaks eight languages. He was no older than twenty one. The lady who drew up my tenancy agreement last year also spoke eight languages, one of which was Luxembourgish (even though she was Moroccan). My bosses children (six and four years old), are heading toward fluency in French now, having been here for eighteen months, and will be starting to learn German soon.

So why did I only start having language lessons when I was twelve years old? Children should be taught younger, when they are still information sponges.

Thoughts?