Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary schools rather than secondary schools. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?

Some authorities think that it is more favourable for pupils

to begin

studying

languages

at primary school

instead

of secondary school.

This

essay will argue that the advantages of it outweigh the drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone learns an additional

language

, the more likely they are to master it and that it brings added cognitive benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage, namely confusion with their native tongue, is not valid. The main reason to start kids off with foreign

languages

early is that

this

increases the likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood.

That is

to say that they will have far more years to perfect their skills, and speaking bilingually will seem perfectly normal.

For example

, in countries

such

as Holland and Norway, where English is taught from a very young age, most adults speak it at an advanced level. Learning a second

language

also

helps to improve cognitive abilities.

In other words

, it benefits the

overall

development of a child’s brain. It is well known that bi-lingual children are significantly more likely to score higher in Mathematics and Science.

On the other hand

, critics say that it causes the child to become confused between their mother tongue and the other

language

.

However

, there is actually no evidence to support

this

view and children from bilingual families do just as well in both

languages

.

For instance

, my son was brought up speaking both Vietnamese and English and outperforms most of his classmates in both. In conclusion, the fact that early foreign

language

learning leads to higher fluency and improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs the uptake of native

languages

.