Slashdot Mirror


Learn To Code, It's More Important Than English as a Second Language, Says Apple CEO (cnbc.com)

Apple CEO Tim Cook says it is more important to learn how to code than it is to learn English as a second language. From a report: The tech executive made the remarks to French outlet Konbini while in the country for a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has called for tech companies to pay higher taxes in Europe. "If I were a French student and I were 10 years old, I think it would be more important for me to learn coding than English. I'm not telling people not to learn English in some form -- but I think you understand what I am saying is that this is a language that you can [use to] express yourself to 7 billion people in the world," Cook tells Konbini. "I think that coding should be required in every public school in the world. [...] It's the language that everyone needs, and not just for the computer scientists. It's for all of us."

42 of 296 comments (clear)

  1. Fully agree by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 5, Funny
    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
    1. Re: Fully agree by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There is nothing funny about this; it is 100% insightful. Cool should stick to what he understands. The minute people start spouting this "everyone should know how to code" bullshit, or start talking about computer languages as options to human ones, they immediately identify themselves who don't have the slightest clue about software.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    2. Re: Fully agree by rtb61 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Sorry but Tim Cook is living in a bubble, the majority of people are totally unfit to code. From my own experiences math geeks tend to do the best at it, that peculiar genetic mind set seems to really suit it. There are other really smart people, really smart and they are still crap and coding. All sorts of problems crop up. For me, presented a problem, all sorts of coding solutions would pop up, and unfortunately I would try to implement all of them at the same time, each part works on it's own but the combination, what a mess and it takes forever to dig out because each bit works, fix it sure but most certainly not productively or efficiently.

      By far the bulk of the population will never ever be able to code productively, no matter how hard you try to force it.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    3. Re: Fully agree by Tranzistors · · Score: 2, Insightful

      the majority of people are totally unfit to code.

      I'm sure this view is based on rigorous scientific studies and you have submitted a meta-analysis paper in Nature. Perhaps you would share with us the scientific articles that have studied the programming abilities of wide range of populations?

      If there is no scientific backing of what you said, what you said is hardly credible. You use weasel words all over the place: “unfit to code”, “peculiar genetic mind set”, “really smart people”, “crap at coding”, “code productively”. History is littered with dubious attempts to claim that certain groups of people “just can't do a particular thing”, like “Women are not capable of logical reasoning” or “Negroes are mentally handicapped”. To me, your reasoning looks somewhat like this:

      I have been in USA and Canada, and from my experience, Canadians are just better at speaking French. Sure, some Canadians are just hopless at French, but I have hardly met any American who could make a coherent statement in French. Therefore there is no point in teaching French to Americans, since they are just not good at it.

      Sure, it makes sense to discuss if programming languages are useful to learn, like any other foreign language, but you should not outright dismiss most of people, especially without evidence.

    4. Re: Fully agree by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There isn't a professional with any significant amount of experience in the field who doesn't know that many, many people are not able to competently do our job, because we have worked with many of them. You wouldn't complain if we said not everyone can be a doctor or a physicist, but coding? Anyone can do that! It's easy. The fact you think we need studies to show that such an idea is ludicrous makes you one of the people unqualified for the job.

      --
      Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
    5. Re: Fully agree by Mordaximus · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sorry but Tim Cook is living in a bubble, the majority of people are totally unfit to code.

      The majority of people are unfit to write professionally. Does this mean they shouldn't learn a language? I don't think the intent is that everyone become a professional programmer. But gaining some knowledge into how, and why a computer works would certainly be valuable.

      That doesn't even address people coding as a hobby, or out of self interests (Maybe writing a quick python script to solve a particular one-off problem.

    6. Re: Fully agree by Tranzistors · · Score: 2

      Again, you have missed the mark completely

      Perhaps. I'll try to make my case clearer.

      The point Tim Cook is making is that in school teaching coding has more benefits than teaching English as a second language. He does not claim that students should avoid English. In fact, [technical] English will be learned while learning coding.

      School curriculum is filled with stuff that will not be useful to everyone. Did you have physics and chemistry in school? Do you use it now in any capacity? These subjects are included in schools to either prepare future specialists in STEM fields or providing basic insight on how the “real world” works. Programming is both useful for future carriers and for understanding the “real world”.

      Furthermore, programming skills are useful for whatever field the student goes into. Either making models in physics or economy, creating art or managing office supplies in spreadsheets. In my university physicists, biologists and mathematicians are taught programming (I haven't looked into other fields), and for a good reason. To make matters worse, those people will program, whether you or they like it or not. If they will have to code, better teach them to do it in a less awful manner.

      I assure you that the world has a very high population of people who cannot grasp the intricacies of spreadsheets.

      I believe that there are many, who do not grasp the intricacies of spreadsheets, but it is courageous to say that they cannot. Ask yourself, how many hours does a student have to spend learning mathematics (starting from basic arithmetic) until they can understand function derivatives? Now, how many hours are spent teaching spreadsheets? Anyway, to show that a very high population of people who cannot grasp the intricacies of spreadsheets you would have to a) get rid of the weasel words, b) get a random sample of people, c) teach them spreadsheets with the state of the art teaching methodologies, d) motivate them to want to learn. Unless I see a study that looks remotely like this, I will not believe any claims about what people can't do.

    7. Re: Fully agree by cstacy · · Score: 2

      But gaining some knowledge into how, and why a computer works would certainly be valuable.

      Absolutely. But that's not the same as "learning to code", and isn't what Cook was advocating.

  2. Great idea! by SeaFox · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That will improve communication in international development teams -- not having a common language to speak to each other in. I'm sure that will have no impact on the final product.

  3. So wrong by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The idea that everybody needs to learn to code is ridiculous. It's like saying that everybody needs to learn how to build a house, or how to build a car, etc.

    Just like learning basic carpentry or basic auto repair is a useful life skill, so are basic computer skills. But if programming isn't your thing, then learning it isn't going to do you a lot of good in your life.

    1. Re:So wrong by techdolphin · · Score: 2

      I agree. When cars came out people were saying everybody will need to learn how to repair cars. Sure, people will need to know how to use a computer. I have worked as a programmer, and I have three children. Trying to teach them to code would be a waste of time and effort. What we need to teach everyone is critical thinking. Coding is not even on the list.

    2. Re:So wrong by oldgraybeard · · Score: 2

      Plumbing ;) lol lets see them outsource that to be done remotely! Although some may dream of being remote while doing it ;) lol

    3. Re:So wrong by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      What you're arguing for is teaching algorithmics, and I agree. But that's different from teaching programming (programming, along with a lot of other fields, is built on top of algorithmics).

      My kids have been out of school for a while now, so things may have changed, but algorithmics used to be taught as part of the standard curriculum in both math and science classes. They didn't call it that, but that's what it was.

    4. Re:So wrong by Frosty+Piss · · Score: 2

      ^^^ This.

      Vocational schools are highly under-rated. Not everyone has an interest or ability in STEM or even any of the other standard 4-year educational paths, and forcing them into it is what produces mediocrity. There's nothing wrong with being an electrician making $60 and up, and I know plumbers that are well into the lower six figures without much effort, and good for them because I don't care to wade around knee-deep in other people's shit so I will gladly pay someone else to do it.

      --
      If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
  4. Code using what ? by psergiu · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Code using what programming language ?
    Swift ?
    Whose keywords are english words ? And most of the documentation is in english ?

    The french should sue Apple for not releasing the programming language "Rapide" - where all the keywords are in french. And it understands the following:

    laisser a=quatre-vingt-dix-huit

    --
    1% APY, No fees, Online Bank https://captl1.co/2uIErYq Don't let your $$$ sit in a no-interest acct.
  5. Not everyone by DarkRookie · · Score: 2

    Not everyone needs to know how to code. Not everyone has the talent for it. Adding more and more subpar coders is only going to make stuff worse, not better.

    --
    The millennial that doesn't like most of the stuff designed for millennials.
  6. Re:Ever get stuck by Tablizer · · Score: 2

    ...with code developed by a non-English speaker? Ugly.

    Oh, I mistook it for Perl ;-)

    Tech CEO's just want cheap labor for their sector. They don't care about more general downsides of poor English to a other areas of a person's life. For example, when a coder gets older and is forced out of coding due to agism or RSI, as often happens, lack of English could greatly limit Plan B. It can also make everyday life difficult outside of work.

    On a related note, the NRA says everyone should own and learn about guns. Surprise!

  7. That's nice, but... by andywest · · Score: 2
    • Cook does not say in what language, of which there are very many; or
    • that most of those languages use English words, meaning that you will still have to learn at least minimal English — especially if you write comments in your code; or
    • that his ultimate goal is to flood the market with programmers and thereby push down the average wage that they earn — which in turn will drive the truly talented to look for other careers.

    This seems like Cook is looking to turn the States into a land of cheap programming labor, like those lands that corporate America enjoy today.

    --
    --- Andy West http://andywest.org
    1. Re:That's nice, but... by painandgreed · · Score: 2

      This seems like Cook is looking to turn the States into a land of cheap programming labor, like those lands that corporate America enjoy today.

      Code and fast pizza delivery. They're the only thing that the US can do better than anybody else any more.

  8. 100% of people should be software engineers by DalM · · Score: 2

    Because, you know, we don't need any other services in this world. We will code the trash pick up.

  9. Did he learn to code himself? by bogaboga · · Score: 2

    Anyone know? Or was he simply reading off some prepared script or a teleprompter?

    1. Re:Did he learn to code himself? by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 2

      Cook can handle pivot tables like nobody's business.

      --
      #DeleteChrome
  10. It does not get much more stupid than this by gweihir · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously, it does not. The level most people can learn to code on (with significant effort) is maybe comparable to being able to order a beer or to say "thank you" in a foreign language. Coding is an experts-only game and it will remain that. You would not seriously advise people to "learn to do mathematical proofs", would you? Coding on any level where it is worthwhile doing is on that level and often even harder, since you need to understand the machine you are coding for.

    Of course, Cook will likely know that very well and just wants to assure a steady supply of cheap, low-quality coders. The stupidity here is with those that believe such statements.

    --
    Most ACs are not even worth the keystrokes to insult them. Be generically insulted by this and ignored otherwise.
    1. Re:It does not get much more stupid than this by JohnFen · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Coding is an experts-only game and it will remain that.

      Well, I wouldn't put it exactly like that, but I have noticed something in common with all of the truly excellent software engineers I've worked with:

      all of them loved programming from a very early age, and taught themselves how to do it. All of them were producing working programs in grade school, well before any formal programming classes were available.

      What distinguishes a real expert (in any field, I think) is not intelligence, formal training, or job experience. It's interest. If you love doing something, you will do it a lot -- and the only road to being an expert is a ton of practice.

  11. Old News, Tim... by ITapeFatCashews · · Score: 2

    I was looking at university catalogs in the mid-1990's. Many were willing to waive the foreign language requirement if a programming language course was taken. Pascal and C were popular programming languages. I've never heard anyone speak Pascal or C. That gibberish sounded like Greek anyway.

  12. Wrong by markdavis · · Score: 5, Insightful

    >"Apple CEO Tim Cook says it is more important to learn how to code than it is to learn English as a second language."

    And that just shows how ignorant he really is. Knowing English is far, far, more important than learning coding. It is useful in just about every single field out there and give you the ability to communicate to nearly anyone on Earth, certainly any place that has a strong economy and/or strong educational system. But most importantly, communication language is something best learned when very young. The brain designed to be wide open and ready for communication language ability. Computer coding is something the brain is NOT really ready for when very young- that comes later with logic, reasoning, math, etc. And keep in mind that while all humans can easily learn English [when young], that is NOT true for coding- there is a large portion, perhaps a majority, of people who will never really learn or master coding at ANY age.

    Knowing both (English and Coding) is great. But if you have to choose one, make it English and teach it young. If you can do both, teach coding later, after English.

    1. Re:Wrong by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      To add some European context, a few months ago I drove 3 hours in the car. In those 3 hours I passed through 4 areas with 4 different native languages (Dutch, French, German, Luxembourgish) broken up into 8 different dialects. None of this included English as a primary, yet that is the only language I could rely on to use at every step of my trip.

      If I had anything to say in response to Apple's CEO using code I'd write it in Brainfuck since that seems to be the only thing that would make sense to him.

  13. Re:Exactly. by ChrisMaple · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Try avoiding buried power lines, phone and cable lines, and pipes with a backhoe. Try getting a backhoe through a gate barely wide enough to walk through.

    --
    Contribute to civilization: ari.aynrand.org/donate
  14. Re:Rust is becoming the de facto language by JohnFen · · Score: 2

    Huh?

    Rust is the 43rd most popular programming language in the world in 2017. I've been working with international teams for over a decade now and, although personal experience doesn't mean anything at all in these sorts of things, I have never personally seen Rust used for professional programming.

    Although it pains me to say it, since I hate the language, I think that if you have to pick one that is closest to being "universal", it would be Java.

  15. Re:Coding is ENGLISH by imgod2u · · Score: 2

    Well, you need to learn *those* english words. Probably a few subsets as well. That's really about it.

    There's a vast difference between understanding the words in programming syntax -- which more often than not are not contextual and have a 1-to-1 transliteration with whatever language you know -- than it is to understand why "10k spoons when all you need is a knife" is not ironic.

  16. Does Tim Cook even code? by King_TJ · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Seriously ... I've never heard a reference to any software he developed before?

    Bill Gates, by contrast, actually DID write some code, including part of the BASIC operating system that was used in some of the old Radio Shack TRS-80 computers.

    It seems to me like if you haven't learned to code yourself, it's pretty hypocritical to declare that all students need to learn it now.

    1. Re:Does Tim Cook even code? by painandgreed · · Score: 2

      It seems to me like if you haven't learned to code yourself, it's pretty hypocritical to declare that all students need to learn it now.

      Well, no, I don't think Tim Cook ever wrote any code. His claim to fame was the business guy that went to Asia and secured the supply chain to make sure that not only could Apple build as many iPhones as they wanted, but also tied up all stock of component parts so that nobody else could build a competitor phone with the same or better parts. Here he is, as a business man, telling the French that between learning English or learning a skill, particularly one that the US is currently known for, they'd be better off learning the skill. So, it could be taken to be saying that if they want to code, in the future, they will be just as well off doing it in their country for people that speak their own language.

      Then again, he might just be telling everybody to code because he heads a large computer company that's all he cares about or because he wants lots of cheap workers in the future.

  17. Dreamed of X86 Assembler speaking aliens by Dareth · · Score: 2

    Dreamed of X86 Assembler speaking aliens. Though once they had defined their data section, I knew everything they could possibly say to me.

    --

    I only look human.
    My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
  18. Coding not about language but logic and creativity by Fly+Swatter · · Score: 2

    Comparing coding to language is an exercise in shortsightedness.

  19. Re:Exactly. by laupark · · Score: 3, Funny

    A backhoe, an overpaid operator, contracted maintenance, financing for said backhoe, fancy accountant at the home office to deal with a depreciating asset, fleet supervisor to manage company cars for the job site foreman. Insurance for the machine, a CDC driver to deliver the big equipment, ooh, another depreciating capital expense - the truck, more insurance for the truck, Drug testing for operators, Yep, just a backhoe is all anyone needs.

  20. Re:Exactly. by jenningsthecat · · Score: 2

    How is learning to code going to help a ditch digger?

    Maybe 'Digger' has his or her sights set on some other occupation. Maybe s/he's part of the hacker community, and digging ditches is just how the bills currently get paid. Maybe it's just about broadening horizons and stretching the mind.

    Pigeonholing people based on the jobs they hold is shortsighted and lacking in imagination.

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
  21. Re: Exactly. by Zero__Kelvin · · Score: 2

    I still see people at construction sites, in ditches, with shovels, in the USA, quite often. And it actually pays quite well compared to other menial labor positions.

    --
    Guns don't kill people; Physics kills people! - John Lithgow as Dick Solomon on Third Rock From The Sun
  22. Re:Exactly. by sexconker · · Score: 3, Insightful

    You just go out and "hire a backhoe"?

    Do you mean rent one? Because if so, bullshit. You've got to transport it, you've got to deal with 611, you've got permits if you're in a residential area, you've got a whole lot of fucking shit.

    If you mean "hire someone to use a backhoe to dig for me", you ARE hiring a team of people. There's the person in the office you spoke with, the manager, the person who buys the equipment, the guy who deals with the permits, the guy who handles the insurance, the guys who run the backhoes, the guys who drive the trucks, etc. etc. You're just ignorant and you don't think beyond what's right in front of your face.

  23. Re:Exactly. by Whatsisname · · Score: 2

    You can absolutely rent backhoes, small excavators, etc. I've personally rented an excavator to help a friend with a basement repair.

    Dealing with 611, which I'm presuming is your local utility locator hotline, is something you have to do even if you are digging a posthole by hand. Additionally, permitting you have to deal with on many projects regardless what equipment you are using.

    Look up your local rental shop, you'll find they rent all the stuff. They'll have skidsteers (bobcats), excavators, tillers, trenchers, etc. If you don't have a trailer to haul it on, they'll rent that too. Your car can't tow 4000 lbs? They'll rent you a truck to tow it too.

  24. Let me know by ChunderDownunder · · Score: 2

    when XCode runs on an iPad.

    Otherwise, your $500 iPad that my niece's parents were forced to buy for her schooling is not fit for purpose.

  25. Re:Comments by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

    Of course not because all the best programmers avoid commenting their code.

    Well, at any rate, many people who think of themselves as the best programmers avoid commenting their code.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.
  26. Re:Exactly. by serviscope_minor · · Score: 2

    Do you mean rent one?

    Pretty sure he means hire one. You can hire diggers from any good plant hire centre.

    Because if so, bullshit. You've got to transport it,

    I just googled "plant hire with delivery". It seems that there are many plant hire companies who offer both delivery AND collection services. If transport is a problem for you, I'd recommend using one of those.

    you've got permits if you're in a residential area, you've got a whole lot of fucking shit.

    Like planning permission? Sure you need that to start digging up shit generally, but that's not really got much to do with plant hire. You need those even if you're digging by hand. And the plant hire company won't generally help you with it.

    Anyway, google disagrees with you, which means in this case, you're spouting crap. It's really quite easy to hire heavy plant.

    --
    SJW n. One who posts facts.