The current time of learning a foreign language

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?

Sample Solution

Some specialists suggest that children gain more advantages by starting to learn a foreign language in primary school instead of secondary school. In my opinion, the advantages of this, in my opinion, outweigh the disadvantages. The benefits and drawbacks will both be emphasized in this essay.

One of the primary benefits of learning a foreign language at a young age is that children are more receptive to new information. The brain’s capacity for language acquisition is more pronounced in early childhood, as younger children tend to absorb languages more naturally and intuitively. By starting in primary school, children can take advantage of this cognitive flexibility, which not only helps them grasp a foreign language with greater ease but also improves their overall cognitive abilities, such as problem-solving and critical thinking skills. This can set a strong foundation for their future academic achievements

However, early exposure to a foreign language has two major drawbacks for young children. Weak communication is the first issue. The majority of the time, the foreign language being learned is not the primary dialect used to communicate with the young person, leading to the learning of multiple languages at once. As a result, the child may end up confusing different languages in a sentence, which will lead to poor communication. For example, my sister began studying French, English, and Yoruba at school when she was 3 years old. The miscommunication that resulted from her occasionally using words from all three of these languages in the same sentence persisted until she gave up on learning that particular language.

Additionally, a drawback is a packed curriculum. When a child is learning a language that is not their first, the curriculum of their school may become overly rigid, preventing them from participating in other important activities like taking an afternoon nap or playing games.

In conclusion, although there are potential drawbacks to starting foreign language education at a young age, the benefits—ranging from enhanced cognitive development to increased cultural awareness—clearly outweigh these disadvantages.