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?

Learning a

second

language

is essential for academic and professional purposes. Historically, foreign languages have been taught in secondary school.

However

, some specialists advocate that it would be more beneficial if

children

learned them from an earlier age. Some schools have already adopted

this

policy

, which has positive and negative aspects. Opponents of

this

policy

argue that young

children

are already exposed to a considerable number of traditional courses

such

as science, math, history etc. By adding more classes at a young age,

children

would have limited time to participate in other activities,

such

as arts or sports, essential for healthy development.

Furthermore

, primary school teachers are usually generalists, and if they did not have the necessary skills themselves, schools would need to hire specialists.

This

could be expensive and only schools with a more generous budget would be able to implement

this

policy

.

Although

the above arguments are valid, I do not believe they outweigh the advantages. The obvious argument in its favour is that young

children

pick up

language

much easier than adolescents. Not only are their brains still being shaped and programmed to learn their mother tongue, but they are

also

not inhibited by self-consciousness.

Furthermore

, in learning a

second

language

, pupils would be exposed to different cultures, which could help them to understand and embrace diversity. There are different actions that could be put in place to tackle the concerns raised by those who are against

this

policy

.

For instance

, pupils could learn the

second

language

in short sessions and in a ludic-centred approach.

Moreover

, governments could destinate specific funding for either capacitating the primary schools’ teachers or hiring professionals with the necessary

language

skills. In conclusion, the benefits of learning a

second

language

at a younger age are numerous, and under no circumstances should funding constraints or preconceptions beliefs hamper its implementation.