Some expert 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 disadvantage?

There is a common debate among experts on the advantages and

disadvantages

of children learning a foreign

language

at primary

school

over secondary

school

and I would attempt to discuss

this

statement here on with adequate examples, in support of its advantages that may outweigh the latter.

Firstly

, kids start learning at a very tender age,

therefore

exposing the primary curriculum to a foreign

language

does have its benefits.

For example

, the educational system in Sri Lanka brought about recent reforms to allow students to opt for the English medium at a primary level over the native

language

Sinhala. I too am a product of these educational reforms which enabled me to very quickly adapt to the change in the

language

during my higher studies, over many others who had not had

this

advantage while yet in Primary

school

. Statistics suggest that over 70% of those who studied in the English medium, have been able to secure higher marks in their higher studies.

This

was very much the case with many that passed out during my time.

However

, one of the

disadvantages

of

this

would be that students would pay less attention to the native languages which will invariably mean that they would forget their mother tongue.

Therefore

, in the context of Sri Lanka,

this

would have far fewer

disadvantages

as Sinhala is not an acceptable

language

in the modern corporate world. In Conclusion, it is quite evident that there are far too many advantages, rather than

disadvantages

to children being thought a foreign

language

in primary

school

rather than secondary college.