Schools should not force children to learn a foreign language. To what extent do you agree with this statement?

It is true that some people argue that a foreign language should not be one of the
compulsory subjects studied in schools. While I believe that it is useful for
schoolchildren to learn a foreign language, I agree completely that they should not
be forced to do so.

On the one hand, it will benefit the education of most children if they are
encouraged learn a foreign language during their school years. Firstly, through
studying the language they will learn about the culture of that country, and some
schools even arrange exchange visits, to enable students to briefly immerse
themselves in the culture of the foreign country whose language they are learning.
Secondly, children can access information in another language. For example, if
they are studying English, they can enjoy websites which are only available in
English on any topic in which they are interested. Finally, children can be
encouraged to learn a foreign language through the range of enjoyable and fun
materials available nowadays, especially interactive online learning.

On the other hand, it would be counterproductive to forcibly oblige

schoolchildren to learn a foreign language. One reason is that children will not
learn effectively through compulsion alone. They must be motivated to do so and
this is only achieved through enthusiastic teachers who select stimulating
language-learning activities. Another reason is that schoolchildren will be
reluctant to learn a foreign language if they cannot see why it might be relevant to
their present or future lives. For example, individual Vietnamese pupils should not
be forced to learn English if they are certain that they will never need or want to
use it in the future.

In conclusion, I would argue that schools should encourage, but not compel,
children to learn a foreign language.