IELTS Writing Task 2: Foreign languages at primary school

In some countries children do not study a foreign language until they are eleven or twelve, while in others they begin at six or seven. Many experts recommend the earlier start. Although this approach has some practical drawbacks, I believe that its advantages are considerably greater.

The main disadvantages concern time and teachers. The primary timetable is already full, and adding a language may reduce the hours available for reading, writing and mathematics in the child's own language. In addition, primary teachers usually teach every subject, and many of them do not speak a second language well. If lessons are given by someone with poor pronunciation, pupils may learn mistakes that are difficult to correct later.

However, these problems are outweighed by the benefits of starting young. Small children are natural language learners. They copy sounds accurately and are not embarrassed about making errors, whereas teenagers are often too self-conscious to speak in front of their classmates. A child who starts at seven therefore tends to develop better pronunciation and more confidence than one who starts at twelve.

An early start also gives pupils far more total learning time. By the end of secondary school they will have studied the language for ten or more years, which is long enough to reach a level that is useful for work or travel. Moreover, learning songs and stories from another country introduces children to different cultures and makes them more open-minded.

The difficulties can be managed. Short, regular lessons based on games take little time from other subjects, and specialist language teachers can visit several primary schools each week.

In conclusion, the practical problems of teaching languages to young children are real but can be solved. Since an early start produces more confident speakers, I am convinced that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages.