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

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign

languages

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at secondary school, but introducing them earlier is recommended by some educationalists.

This

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policy has been adopted by some educational authorities or individual

schools

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, with both positive and negative outcomes. The obvious argument in its favour is that young children pick up

languages

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much more easily than teenagers. Their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue, which facilitates learning another

language

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

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apply

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a play-centred approach,

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maintaining learners’ enthusiasm and progress. Their command of the

language

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in later life will benefit from

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early exposure

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learning other

languages

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subsequently

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will be easier for them. They may

also

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gain a better understanding of other cultures. There are,

however

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, some disadvantages. Primary

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schools

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school

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teachers are generalists, and may not have the necessary

skill

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skills

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themselves. If specialists have to be brought in to deliver these sessions, the flexibility referred to above is diminished. If primary

language

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teaching is not standardised, secondary

schools

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could be faced with a great variety of levels in different

languages

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within their intake, resulting in a classroom experience which undoes the earlier gains. There is no advantage if enthusiastic primary pupils become demotivated as soon as they change

schools

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.

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

language

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learning benefits society culturally and economically, and early exposure to

language

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learning contributes to

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