Learning a second language at the primary education level is fun and students learn the language more accurately. Some experts think that the best time for young people to learn a new language is at primary school. I also believe that it has several advantages. 2010). In our recent study comparing 5, 7 and 11 year olds learning French in England, 96% of the 5 year olds enjoyed learning French, and 88% of the 7 year olds did so too. First, children's brains are like sponges, they can absorb new information quickly and easily. Vocabulary (Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school) : grasping - avaricious; greedy. Second, it is easier for children to learn the pronunciation of a foreign language. Teresa Tinsley and Kathryn Board, who wrote the new Language Trends survey, examine the effect of the change. . English is the most-studied foreign language across almost all European countries and at all education levels. A quiet revolution happened in English primary schools last September, representing a historic curriculum change: language-learning was made compulsory for all children between seven and 11. By the time they reach age 7, however, children have started realising that learning a foreign language is hard work and that it takes a long time to be able to hold a basic conversation. The curriculum also becomes more focussed on examinations, which are perceived as difficult in Modern Languages. Education Indicators in Focus: How much time do primary and lower secondary students spend in the classroom? In addition, they pick up the pronuciation better and enjoy copying and learning through games. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. They find it fun and they enjoy discovering new worlds and new ways of saying things. Primary school teachers are usually excellent motivators; they enthuse children about learning new topics, and all the evidence shows that children learning foreign languages in primary schools share this enthusiasm. There are three methods of learning a foreign language; reading, writing, listening. 465 Words 2 Pages Satisfactory Essays It Can Be Quite Difficult to Learn a New Language. Cable et al. This strain affects children differently than would an extra math course in school. Kroll, Judith F, and Ellen Bialystok. The key point to justify this attitude could be illustrated by a personal tangible example. You should write at least 250 words. Learning French from ages 5, 7 and 11: an investigation into starting ages, rates and routes of learning amongst early foreign language learners, https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-languages-progammes-of-study. I firmly believe that there is a defensible basis for this argument. According to Psychology Professor Erika Hoff, author of the book "Language Development," learning multiple languages simultaneously limits the number of words that a child . But what happens in England, where children grow up speaking the international language, and where the cultural context as well as inconsistent commitment from successive governments make the learning of foreign languages anything but central to the educational agenda? . More recent arguments are based on the cognitive advantages that learning a foreign language brings (such as enhanced problem solving, attentional control or ability to switch tasks, and on the claim that it helps with literacy in English but these arguments have not yet filtered into public discourse. 2014. Children who learn a second language at an early age show higher performance in overall basic skills in primary school. Votes Cancel rating Give it 1/10 Give it 2/10 Give it 3/10 Give it 4/10 Give it 5/10 Learning foreign languages in primary schools: is younger better? Many believe that students at primary schools should start learning a foreign tongue and should not wait till secondary school level. Research on current educational provision has highlighted two further areas of concern, in addition to the low amount of teaching input: (i) the transition between primary and secondary school is problematic because children arrive with very diverse foreign language experiences; (ii) the lack of specialist teachers, lack of training for teachers, and lack of adequate teaching resources. So, learning a foreign language early on boosts flexible thinking and communication skills, helping children consider issues from more than one perspective. This does not make for an ideal learning context, and it can be demotivating for learners, as well as for the teacher who typically has to assume children do not have any language skills. Learning French from ages 5, 7, and 11: An Investigation into Starting Ages, Rates and Routes of Learning Amongst Early Foreign Language Learners. Bolster, Allison, Christine Balandier-Brown and Pauline Rea-Dickens. But what happens in England, where children grow up speaking the international language, and where the cultural context as well as inconsistent commitment from successive governments make the learning of foreign languages anything but central to the educational agenda? It is proven that children who learn a new language tend to make fewer mistakes in writing an essay. It can be any modern or ancient foreign language and the focus should be on enabling pupils to make substantial progress in one language. I strongly support the idea that children should begin learning a foreign language at primary school than at secondary school. However, the government policy which made learning a foreign language compulsory in English primary schools from Key Stage 2 was almost exclusively linked to the first of these motives. That is to say, they are less likely to find the different pronunciation and grammar of a foreign language strange and difficult to learn than their counterparts at secondary school. The second is that in an increasingly globalized world, intercultural competence is essential, and that it is important to awaken childrens interests in other people and cultures at a time when they are open and receptive. Lastly, excellence in foreign languages is greatly beneficial for professional development as well as financial betterment. Contrasting Effects of Starting Age and Input on the Oral Performance of Foreign Language Learners, Applied Linguistics, 35.4: 463482, Murphy, Victoria. To conclude, despite certain disadvantages, a vast amount of benefits should be considered by society and individuals while deciding whether their school going children should learn a foreign language or not. by Marianne Nikolov (Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter), pp. The younger children, however, were the most enthusiastic, as reported by many studies (e.g. Languages, Society & Policy https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.9806. By knowing the culture of others, they may not experience cultural shock and are able to adapt well when staying in other countries for the purpose of studying. The growth of an individual brain and increase in opportunities will support the argument. Answer (1 of 16): No. One option could be for all children to start a new language at secondary school from scratch, avoiding the transition problems we mentioned above and which are so demotivating for children. Focussing less one-sidedly on a goal of linguistic proficiency would help mitigate some of the problems outlined above. This trend boosts up the brain and enhance the performance of a student. Most of the research to date has focussed on the learning of English as a foreign language, in countries where there is much pressure for children to learn English in order to become successful global citizens. It is only once children realise that proficiency targets need to be met that their motivation wanes. Languages, Society & Policy https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.9806. In disagreement with the given statement: Babies, toddlers and preschoolers are being enrolled in the foreign language classes by a growing number of parents and the numbers are expected to rise. In the following paragraphs I will list some reasons to support my position. As a result, it increases the grasping and learning-power of a child. At this point, many educators and linguists contend that children will be more beneficial from second language acquisition in elementary school rather than the high school level. On the one hand, children at a young age are fast learners. a French caf for parents in one primary school; revamping learning in a secondary school to focus on cultural and linguistic knowledge across the whole-school curriculum. If better means faster linguistic progress, the research evidence tells us that older children outperform younger children; their greater cognitive maturity helps them make the best of the limited input and of explicit instruction. 2000. Muoz was able to follow a large number of learners over a long period of time (learners were tested after 200, 416 and 726 hours of instruction). they were regarded as grasping landlords; arrogant - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities. Required fields are marked *. Copyright 2022 9IELTS. Consequently, many models of language teaching delivery are currently used in schools, ranging from the employment of one dedicated language teacher for the whole school (only viable in larger primary schools), the use of a peripatetic specialist teacher going from school to school, or, in many schools, the class teacher teaching the language, and perhaps learning it at the same time as the children. However, there is another side of a coin always. 2010. If they have to learn a new language in primary school, they will be loaded with more tonnes of homework every day. 9IELTS is dedicated to providing free materials and resources for IELTS conquerors. Children To Begin Learning A Foreign Language At Primary School IELTS Writing Task 2 consists of three sample answers provided below. The optimum age for learning a new language is a matter of public debate which in my opinion is better to start as early as possible as the advantages of it are far more than the disadvantages. There are several advantages of studying a foreign language from primary level. Cable, Carrie, Patricia Driscoll, Rosamond Mitchell, Sue Sing, Teresa Cremin, Justine Earl, Ian Eyres, Bernadette Holmes, Cynthia Martin and Barbara Heins. Firstly, they cannot understand the real meaning of many aspects of the language as they are not mature enough. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion. (London: Department for Children Schools and Families), Coleman, James A. 2012. Pedagogy-related 5. A study by United Nations has proved that learning any language other than the native one activates various new parts of the brain which were never used before. 2. Now, she can speak very fluently both of them. A flagship AHRC-funded project to revitalize Modern Languages and shape UK language policy by showing how multilingualism can empower individuals and transform societies. , starting learning a foreign language at an early age gives more advantages for children . Some of the cognitive advantages of learning a second language may have to do with the fact that the brain of bilingual and multilingual children develops more densely, as found by researchers analyzing the brain densities of bilingual people. Therefore, making kids to learn a new language at an early age will help them in their mental growth. Carmen Muoz and her team capitalized on the fact that the government changed the age at which English was introduced in the classroom in rapid succession, creating a natural experiment whereby they were able to compare second language learners having started at ages 8, 11, 14 and over 18. Some people believe that it is a good thing, while others claim that it will be an extra burden for them in such an early age and the learning of a second language should be started at the secondary level. It is widely believed that studying a foreign language in the first year of school is more effective than in secondary school for children. The Department of Education states liberation from insularity and an opening to other cultures as the principal purposes for introducing language learning in primary school. Visits to and from foreign countries; internet exchanges with foreign schools, projects about some aspect of the foreign country/people, possibly linked with some other aspect of the curriculum, reflections on positive reasons for learning languages, and on the strategies which will help learners progress, would help foster an enduring enthusiasm for language in its cultural and social context, and thus support gradual linguistic progress. Moreover, give the special care and settle down proper curriculum could be much beneficial for them in this way. Children now study one foreign language for up to one hour per week. By Florence Myles | 21 May 2017 | Policy Papers, In the case of immigrant children, there is much research evidence that young children are actually slower than older learners at the beginning of the learning process. And in contexts where there are many children with English as an additional language, it might be more appropriate to teach one of the languages of the community. Primary school teachers are usually excellent motivators; they enthuse children about learning new topics, and all the evidence shows that children learning foreign languages in primary schools share this enthusiasm. All Rights Reserved. The team then compared their learning on a wide range of measures testing all 4 macroskills: speaking, listening, writing and reading. What is needed is a clear vision of the purpose of introducing young children to foreign languages, and of how the teaching of primary foreign languages can be integrated successfully within the Foreign Language curriculum as a whole, all the way through to GCSE, paying particular attention to evolving learner motivation and to the transition from primary to secondary school. Due to the advancements in communication systems, the relation among nations has been increased markedly. And in contexts where there are many children with English as an additional language, it might be more appropriate to teach one of the languages of the community. In the context of foreign language learning in the classroom, are primary school children also more likely than older students to reach native-like proficiency in the long run? As a consequence, they may develop a negative attitude in learning, especially towards language learning. But what is the research evidence? Thus, the student absorbs information faster. And almost 8 times as many students take Latin, a so-called "dead language". The information on this site is for informational purposes only. Hence, it is certainly a welcoming effort to teach them a second language at an early age. Spanish might be a stronger motivator for children, as many have been to Spain on holiday, and its orthography and pronunciation are more transparent. The motivational, cultural, and cognitive benefits of language learning need to be stated more positively to ensure adequate recognition of their importance and value in the national curriculum. But few schools offer this (and it is often at the cost of true fluency and literacy in the native language). Learning a language involves more than just memorising words and knowing the grammar. When a child learns a new language, he or she can now connect it to other areas or fields of education. In our modern society, the question whether the children should start to learn a foreign language at the primary school has been widely discussed. Your email address will not be published. Why the British do not learn languages: myths and motivation in the United Kingdom Language Learning Journal, 37.1: 111128. In press. If you would like to receive news and updates on the projects activities, please contact: Languages, Society & Policy, Faculty of Modern & Medieval Languages and Linguistics, Raised Faculty Building, University of Cambridge, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge. The current one hour weekly, well below the several hours of teaching in many European countries, is insufficient to meet current expectations about achievement. They found that with the same amount of instruction, late starters were consistently faster and more efficient learners on all measures. 2000. But what is the research evidence? Learning a foreign language has two cultural benefits on children in primary school which are developing global understanding and social interaction. Department for Education. Introduction.Setting the scene Part 1. The team then compared their learning on a wide range of measures testing all 4 macroskills: speaking, listening, writing and reading. This site uses cookies to offer you a better browsing experience. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe reveals the importance of learning a foreign . It seems that young children, learn mainly by doing rather than by conscious learning, that is, they learn more implicitly than older children. Enrollment is lowest in cultural-need languages, like Arabic, which is considered crucial to national security. I believe that the advantages are far more than the disadvantages. 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Is compulsory in more than 20 European countries fun ; it is widely believed that language will inevitably an > learning foreign languages language will be covered in this level articulation of the as everyone speaks English in! In order to capitalize on this site uses cookies to offer you a better foundation in foreign With the same amount of instruction, late starters were consistently faster and easier the real of! Child is born with the same time, research shows that young children are very enthusiastic towards the of!
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