According to a famous saying, “The limits of my language are the limits of my world. ” Indeed,
the ability to speak several languages is considered one of the hallmarks of a cultured person.
From this perspective, foreign language instruction should begin as early as possible in order to
achieve near-native fluency. The reasons behind this approach are intellectual, social and
professional.
Intellectually, learning a foreign language at a young age enables children to develop their brain.
At this age, children’s minds are like sponges and their capacities are limitless. They have less
inhibition or biases against learning different subjects. They can learn one, two or three
languages without confusion; it would only serve to expand their minds. Therefore, it is ideal to
start teaching a foreign language in kindergarten.
Socially, learning a foreign language enables the young child to enter a wider cultural world. By
learning to speak, think and understand a different language, the child develops greater crosscultural
awareness. This critical ability enables the child to make friends with, identify with and
empathize with others who speak the additional language.
Professionally, by learning a foreign language in kindergarten, the child expands his/her future
career horizons. In today’s increasingly globalized world, bilingual and multilingual individuals
are in high demand. The child who achieves this fluency naturally and easily at a young age
already has an edge over others in the job market.
In summary, numerous benefits flow from teaching a foreign language from kindergarten. The
child will most likely grow up to thank those who made such a learning experience possible.
According to a
famous
saying, “The limits of my
language
are the limits of my world. ”
Indeed
,
the ability to speak several
languages
is considered
one of the hallmarks of a cultured person.
From this perspective,
foreign
language
instruction should
begin
as early as possible in order to
achieve near-native fluency. The reasons behind this approach are intellectual, social and
professional.
Intellectually
,
learning
a
foreign
language
at a young age enables children to develop their brain.
At this age, children’s minds are like sponges and their capacities are limitless. They have less
inhibition or biases against
learning
different
subjects. They can learn one, two or three
languages without confusion; it would
only
serve to expand their minds.
Therefore
, it is ideal to
start
teaching a
foreign
language
in kindergarten.
Socially
,
learning
a
foreign
language
enables the young
child
to enter a wider cultural world. By
learning to speak,
think
and understand a
different
language
, the
child
develops greater
crosscultural
awareness. This critical ability enables the
child
to
make
friends with, identify with and
empathize with others who speak the additional language.
Professionally
, by
learning
a
foreign
language
in kindergarten, the
child
expands his/her future
career horizons. In
today
’s
increasingly
globalized world, bilingual and multilingual individuals
are in high demand. The
child
who achieves this fluency
naturally
and
easily
at a young age
already has an edge over others in the job market.
In summary, numerous benefits flow from teaching a
foreign
language
from kindergarten. The
child will most likely grow up to thank those who made such a
learning
experience possible.