When did you begin to learn English?

Native Korean   Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:15 am GMT
This question is for non-native English speakers/non-English speaking countries.

In my country South Korea, students begin to learn English from the 3rd grade at schools. (It's compulsory!)

I am curious about other countries and the language eduaction.
In your country, when do students generally begin to learn English and other foreign language?
And is it compulsory or optional?

Do you think it's better to learn English(foreign language) as early as possible?

Please identify your country with your answer.
Alexei   Sat Oct 06, 2007 1:03 pm GMT
In my country (Moldova, it's between Ukraine and Romania, the former Soviet Union, for those who don't know where it is :-) ) Englsih is usually taught starting from the 5th grade (sometimes even from the 1st) at school and then for a couple of years at universities.

But the system of teaching English at schools and universities is so pointless that very few of university graduates can speak English at least at an intermediate level. Even the graduates of foreign languages faculties are sometimes very weak in English.
CC   Sat Oct 06, 2007 4:05 pm GMT
In my country, Colorado, we start learning English before our first birthdays.
TBD   Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:15 am GMT
Um...since when is Colorado a country?
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:01 am GMT
Isn't there a thread about this already?

I started learning English when I was 10 years old.
In one hand, it's better to start learning a foreign language when you are younger, because it's easier to memorize new words and sounds; in the other hand, there are other things as important to learn, your own language being one of them.
Clair   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:22 am GMT
I don't want to... but he makes me do it... do you do it>?
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:25 am GMT
Алехей, нехуй врать
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:27 am GMT
alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always always alway always always always
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:28 am GMT
who wants to buy designer bags?
who wants to cure bags under your eyes?
greg   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:29 am GMT
go fuck yourself in the ass with French bread sticks, impudent trolls.
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:35 am GMT
oh, what a surpize. Greg wrote English for the first time.
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:44 am GMT
greg, I like when you speak dirty and graphic like that... go on, while I'm touching myself ..... <33333333
Sho   Sun Oct 07, 2007 7:22 am GMT
English is compulsory from 7th grade in Japan, and I myself started studying English from 7th grade.

I wish I'd started it a bit earlier though.
Guest   Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:00 am GMT
@Sho

Is English the first foreign language people learn in Japan?
Sho   Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:20 am GMT
Yes, even before Japanese.