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OrionGirl said:
I'm taking 4 credit hour this semester, plus some intensive 2-3 days courses--and it's been a mess, and exhausting. I'm taking American Sign Language, which is really interesting, but tough--'flapping hands', as our teacher calls it, is a lot of work!

OrionGirl...it's great you're learning ASL! Is there a specific reason for learning it, or is it just for interest? I haven't had a "need" to know it in my life thus far, but I've always thought it would be interesting to learn.
 
Well, one child off to school today! :) Another starts Kindergarten tomorrow. And then my "baby" starts preschool on Thursday! Don't know if I'll be sad about that or not...guess I'll know then!
 
ASL is considered a second language, and one that's typically more useful on a resume than French. So, since I know we'll be moving soon, I'm making an effort to spruce up the ol' papers.
 
OrionGirl said:
ASL is considered a second language, and one that's typically more useful on a resume than French. So, since I know we'll be moving soon, I'm making an effort to spruce up the ol' papers.

I'm sure it opens up all sorts of career possibilities! French can be useful in Canada, since it's one of our official languages, and knowing it opens up career possibilities in government. But learning any second language is helpful, and makes it easier to learn others too. My children's elementary is French Immersion, plus a focus on fine arts. They encourage learning music as well...it's like yet another language.

I know a number of families who are choosing Biligual schools in languages other than French, like Spanish or Chinese (both good for business). We're fortunate to have a number of language choices here. Hmmm, I wonder if ASL is offered in the lower grades?
 
Yeah, down here, Spanish tends to be the 'big' language for most employers. I like French, but haven't used it enough to stil be considered fluent.
 
Dropped my son and my grandson at their schools this morning. As for weird school supplies my grandson needs to bring 4 tennis balls to put on the legs of his desk so the desk won't scratch the floor.

French is definetly good on resume here, that's why itwas tough decision to take my son out of French Immersion.
 
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Chill said:
Dropped my son and my grandson at their schools this morning. As for weird school supplies my grandson needs to bring 4 tennis balls to put on the legs of his desk so the desk won't scratch the floor.

French is definetly good on resume here, that's why I was tough decision to take my son out of French Immersion.

Why did you take him out? We've seen a few kids leave the program here, for various reasons.

Aside from Immersion or biligual programs, language instruction is now mandatory in the public system, starting in grade 4. It's been a long time coming...Alberta has been behind other provinces in that regard. I remember learning French in Winnipeg starting in grade 4 (many years ago!) When I moved to Alberta (Grade 7), I was ahead of the other kids, unfortunately I didn't go into immersion, or have accelerated classes, so my understanding of French didn't really move forward for a while. Now I don't remember much at all. :)
 
My first grader started on Aug. 23. We've been learning a little ASL because my two year old also has health and speech issues. It really helps a lot. My cousin and I when we were younger, used the sign alphabet to talk about stuff privately that we didn't want anyone to overhear.
 
mishi8 said:
Why did you take him out? We've seen a few kids leave the program here, for various reasons.

:)

Trust me as a unilingual civil servant who's trying to learn Fench so my career doesn't grind to a halt it wasn't an easy decsision. However he was struggling so I figured it was better to get him out before he was completely lost. He'll still do French but his other courses will be in English.

He and my grandson are back from their first day now and the consensus is "school sucks". Could be a long year.
 
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