Should French remain mandatory in schools or become an elective?

I feel that requiring French as part of the curriculum may add unnecessary pressure on students. The language seems to contribute to the already high levels of stress they face. Instead of making it a compulsory subject, wouldn’t it be wiser to offer French as an elective so that students can choose whether or not to study it, based on their interests and needs?

Based on personal experience and careful observation, requiring French in schools creates a valuable opportunity for students to build a strong language foundation, regardless of their initial interest. While it can be challenging, sticking with the subject helps develop cognitive skills and cultural sensitivity that may benefit them in unexpected ways later in life. Rather than removing it as a core subject, I believe that updating teaching methods and making the curriculum more engaging would alleviate some of the pressure without sacrificing the benefits of bilingual education.

Hey there, I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. It seems to me that keeping French as a required subject can provide us with some real-world benefits—like easier access to jobs overseas and a broader cultural perspective. That said, I totally get the point about schools already being a pressure cooker for students. It makes me wonder if there might be a middle ground: what if the basics are kept mandatory to ensure everyone gets a flavor of the language, but there’s an option to dive deeper for those who really enjoy it? Has anyone come across innovative teaching methods or curriculum tweaks that make this arrangement work? I’d love to hear any experiences or ideas you all have, especially how to strike that balance between necessity and choice!

imho, making french elective cuts down excess pressure. if someone likes it, they can take it, but why force it on everyone? sometimes forced subjects just add to the stress, realy reducing interest in learning.