Schools should not force children to learn a foreign language. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

It is true that some people argue that a foreign

language

should not be one of the compulsory subjects studied in schools.

While

I believe that it is useful for schoolchildren to learn a foreign

language

, I completely agree that they should not be forced to do so. On the one hand, it will benefit the education of most

children

if they are encouraged to learn a foreign

language

during their school years.

Firstly

, through studying the

language

they will learn about the culture of that country, and some schools even arrange exchange visits, to enable students to briefly immerse themselves in the culture of the foreign country whose

language

they are learning.

Secondly

,

children

can access information in another

language

.

For example

, if they are studying English, they can enjoy websites which are only available in English on any topic in which they are interested.

Finally

,

children

can be encouraged to learn a foreign

language

through the range of enjoyable and fun materials available nowadays, especially interactive online learning.

On the other hand

, it would be counterproductive to forcibly oblige schoolchildren to learn a foreign

language

. One reason is that

children

will not learn effectively through compulsion alone. They must be motivated to do so and

this

is only achieved through enthusiastic teachers who select stimulating

language

-learning activities. Another reason is that schoolchildren will be reluctant to learn a foreign

language

if they cannot see why it might be relevant to their present or future lives.

For example

, individual Vietnamese pupils should not be forced to learn English if they are certain that they will never need or want to use it in the future. In conclusion, I would argue that schools should encourage, but not compel,

children

to learn a foreign

language

.