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?

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign languages at secondary school, but introducing them earlier is recommended by some

educationalists

Suggestion

.

This

Linking Words

policy has been adopted by some educational authorities or individual schools, with both positive and negative outcomes. The obvious argument in its favour is that young children pick up languages much more easily than teenagers. Their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue, which facilitates learning another

language

Use synonyms

, and unlike adolescents, they are not inhibited by self-consciousness. The greater flexibility of the primary timetable allows for more frequent, shorter sessions and for a

play

Suggestion

playful

centred approach,

thus

Linking Words

maintaining learners' enthusiasm and progress. Their command of the

language

Use synonyms

in later life will benefit from

this

Linking Words

early exposure while learning other languages

subsequently

Linking Words

will be easier for them. They may

also

Linking Words

gain a better understanding of other cultures. There are,

however

Linking Words

, some disadvantages. Primary

schools

Suggestion

school

teachers are generalists, and may not have the necessary skill themselves. If specialists have to be brought in to deliver these sessions, the flexibility referred to above is diminished. If primary

language

Use synonyms

teaching is not standardised, secondary schools could be faced with a great variety of levels

in

Suggestion

of

different languages within their intake, resulting in a classroom experience which undoes the earlier gains. There is no advantage if enthusiastic primary pupils become

demotivated

Suggestion

as soon as they change schools.

However

Linking Words

, these issues can be addressed strategically within the policy adopted. Anything which encourages

language

Use synonyms

learning benefits society culturally and economically, and early exposure to

language

Use synonyms

learning contributes to

this

Linking Words

. Young children's innate abilities should be harnessed to make these benefits more achievable.