Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
As the importance of acquiring a foreign language increases, many parents are likely to start teaching their children a second language at an early age. Some may argue that it is easier for children at primary school to begin learning a foreign language as they acquire it quicker than teenagers. In this essay, I will examine the advantages and disadvantages and give my own opinion as to whether the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.
Firstly, the main positive aspect of starting foreign language education at a younger age is that the ability to learn a new language is at its prime when we are young. As the frontal lobe of the brain that governs the language development actively develops prior to the teen years, it is better for the children at primary school to be exposed to the environment where a foreign language is taught rather than beginning in the late childhood. Moreover, a language that was acquired in early childhood is likely to remain longer in life which can be utilised throughout life. For instance, those people who spent their childhood in an English-speaking country have better fluency of English compare to those who migrate after they become adults. Thus, the early exposure of a foreign language teaching environment for the primary school goers is more effective to achieve a better outcome than starting in secondary school.
Despite the positive aspects, the negative impacts that the early start of teaching young children a foreign language can be found. In early childhood, it is more important for children to learn how to interact with others by an active socialising rather than being under unnecessary pressure of learning a second language. In addition, some children at primary school may experience a hard time acquiring their maternal language and teaching them a second language will only result in confusion and even slowing down the progression of fully obtaining their first language.
In conclusion, while there are some disadvantages of beginning a foreign language education at primary school, I personally believe that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in the long term.