Yes, in my experience elementary school was hellishly boring, but I believe that comes from them being focused on teaching mechanical processes, such as the tim

Yes, in my experience elementary school was hellishly boring, but I believe that comes from them being focused on teaching mechanical processes, such as the times table, rather than thought processes. In that way it'd be just as beneficial to a student's social faculties to teach critical thinking as critical thinking would benefit from the teaching of social skills. Having to simultaneously master another language provides students with a direct method of developing their communication skills and requires them to better rationalize their thoughts, so naturally it would foster better social habits. To also touch on one of your notes, I also think that the United States is slow in teaching foreign language, and exposure to other cultures and languages would help to dispel the myth in American culture that the U.S. is the center of the universe. Perhaps American schools should start teaching only in Mandarin as well. :p