Madam, - The natural and most effective way to learn a language is by ear.
Learners interact verbally using the new language and the challenges of reading and writing are left for later. It involves a process of attuning the ear and the mind to interact with the world using previously unfamiliar sounds and phrases. Gradually the internal language learning motor which is inside all of us kicks in and the process develops an ever surer and brisker momentum.
The natural setting for this process occurs when we find ourselves in a situation where an unfamiliar tongue is everywhere spoken. We have all gone through this process as small children when we picked up our first language.
Teachers mimic the natural language learning situation through the total immersion approach. The learner is immersed constantly in the linguistic system to be mastered and the familiar language is pointedly ignored. The approach is highly effective. Ask anybody experienced in the practice of language learning.
For this system to work, of course, it must be correctly applied. Very small children learn new languages much more quickly than adults. However, they cannot be expected to have the discipline and purposefulness of adults.
Having the teaching day broken up with a change in language for even 30 minutes will disrupt the appropriate learning atmosphere.
It is sad that Education Minister Mary Hanafin saw fit to throw a sop to the misguided lobby opposed to total immersion in what are designated "all-Irish schools".
Instead, she could have displayed qualities of leadership and openly promoted and explained best educational practice with courage and conviction.
But then, the task of our political leaders is not to manage but to massage; their role is to play not the leader but the lickspittle; their goal is not to govern but to garner political advantage in as unadventurous a way as possible. This is the norm of our shabby political life. - Yours, etc,
TED O'SULLIVAN, Homefarm Park, Dublin 9.