Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-03-06

20 have both . purely English course and
one containing foreign language" I,
is easy to introduce German or Scan.
dinavian in their own settlements Try
It and see. Competent teachers are
waiting.
INTERNATIONAL LEAGUE FOR OR
AL INSTRUCTION IN MODERN
Fl LANGUAGES.
1t Is encouraging to note that Boston
the center of culture in the east, con-
t1nues to advocate the teaching of mod
ern languages in the primary grades of
our public schools. 1.-THE Boston Herald
OF Feb. Goth says:
For several years past an effort has
been made in different countries Of Eu-
rope to improve methods of teaching
the modern languages, particularly from
the oral side. Through the effort of M.
Louis lesson. educator and writer, an
International league was organized some
years ago, the aim Of which was to en-
courage instruction in foreign LANGUAGES
among the boys and Girls in the pri-
mary schools Of the different countries.
An important branch of this league.
which originated two years ago in Bos-
ton, assumed last October quite a def
mite form in Washington. D. c.. where
are now located the headquarters Of the
United States league.
1T Is the purpose of the league to bring
together all favorably inclined persons,
IN order that their efforts may be con-
centrated toward solution of the prob
lem of oral instruction in modern lam
guages in primary schools as now prac-
tlSa6 in %~2o
where the children learn a foreign Ian
guage at the same time as their own.
The secret of that practical command
or foreign language, acquisition so
rare among Americans, is to begin the
study Of the language in a practical
| way when one is knee-high The lam
guage may be learned, to be sure, by
an adult, by means of teachers and
| books, but rarely is that spontaneity
and practical mastery, under such con-
| dlt1ons, ever acquired with anything like
| the perfection possessed by the child
| well initiated into the spoken forms, for
IN them lies the esprit of the language.
THE nature Of the criticism frequent
~ made regarding the shortcomings of
| Americans in regard to their ability to
| use practically foreign languages may
| be seen at a glance by quotation from
an article on the subject which appeared
in The Boston Herald of Aug. IA, 1911,
The article was occasioned by a COM
| munication in French received by the
House Of Representatives The Speaker
| and two reading clerks were nonplussed
In their efforts to find out what it was
| all about. This discreditable showing
The Herald scored in the words we
quoted in one of the first Of these ar
ticles.
1T is to remedy this state of things
that the league is now working along
practical lines, by beginning at the bot
tom instead of at the top. instruction
by means of translation, leaving out
pronunciation, and especially conversa-
ton, as practised in most high schools
is entirely inadequate and it is Of COM
paratively little use to a pupil who is
unable to express himself and to under
stand conversation in the language he
Is studying. It is quite desirable that
the league should be composed Of the
largest possible number Of teachers,
since 1t is in the interest Of American
children that it is organized in this
country"
Herman Schoenfeld, professor of Ger
manics at George Washington Univer-
sity, Washington, D. c., is first vice
president of the league.
Minneapolis, Mimi, Feb. 20, 1912.