Less than half of public primary school students have access to English classes in Argentina

[Redpossum]

Keeping the lower classes ignorant is part of how they are controlled.

"Give him a house and he'll be grateful for the rest of his life. Give him an education, and he'll try to overthrow you."

I wonder how that compares to Spanish classes being offered in, for example, the US or UK.

Eh, I think the brits mostly study French or German. Despite the fact that it's the third most widely-spoken language in the world, Castellano seems to get little respect or attention in Europe. In the USA it's been a standard offering, (at least in the Southwest), for 50 years or more, but not until the high school level.

 

[Vossos]

Keeping the lower classes ignorant is part of how they are controlled.

"Give him a house and he'll be grateful for the rest of his life. Give him an education, and he'll try to overthrow you."



Eh, I think the brits mostly study French or German. Despite the fact that it's the third most widely-spoken language in the world, Castellano seems to get little respect or attention in Europe. In the USA it's been a standard offering, (at least in the Southwest), for 50 years or more, but not until the high school level.

In my case French was compulsory for the first couple of years at my state secondary school with a choice of either German or Spanish. I recall it being a pretty even split. This was 20 years ago however which makes me feel kinda old.

These days for A Levels all modern foreign languages are in decline besides Spanish, I believe. French and German are nowhere near as useful as Spanish globally

 

[Redpossum]

In my case French was compulsory for the first couple of years at my state secondary school with a choice of either German or Spanish. I recall it being a pretty even split. This was 20 years ago however which makes me feel kinda old.

These days for A Levels all modern foreign languages are in decline besides Spanish, I believe. French and German are nowhere near as useful as Spanish globally

Thanks for the update! My high school days were 50 years ago, if that makes you feel any younger

 

[jantango]

Grammar school in the US in the 50s stressed English. A second language (Spanish, French, German, Latin) was offered in high schools in the 60s.

I know many Argentine seniors who speak a high level of English because they learned it in school along with Spanish. The courses that matter -- art, music, physical education, and foreign languages -- no longer have priority on the list of required studies. Music education should be mandatory for every student in all public schools.

Two teenage boys on my block learned Chinese from their parents growing up. They had to learn Spanish in primary school and studied English in secondary school. With those three languages, they can do anything.