In numerous countries, children are obliged to learn a foreign language at a young age, with schools introducing one to students as early as third grade. While the advantages provided by this system can be great, there are disadvantages resulting from it as well.
The practice of requiring kids to learn a new dialect is common in areas where English is not the primary language, since it has spread and is the most spoken around the world. Fluency in English is a very useful trait in almost every career choice. This is the reason why young students start lessons from as early as it is possible in order to comprehend the new skill. The main idea is the longer kids practice a language the more comfortable they get with oral and written communication. Aside from this, it provides young students with more choices for the future, for example moving to another country for studies or to pursue better career prospects.
On the other hand, the drawbacks from expecting children to start taking lessons on a foreign language from a young age should not be taken lightly because of the significant benefits. Most students are under a lot of pressure even at a young age to excel in school and a new skill can only add to the already existing baggage. Some kids feel that their free time is decreasing so they start to rebel or spend less time studying, which is the most serious consequence of the system. Not having enough time to study properly can influence negatively the students’ knowledge of the native language.
In conclusion, given my experience I would agree that fluency in a second language will prove necessary in the children’s future. However, we should reconsider, not only the time spent studying for a foreign language, but also the age students start taking lessons. That way we can achieve the benefits of the new skill while minimizing the possibility of the disadvantages.
In numerous countries, children
are obliged
to learn a foreign
language
at a
young
age
, with schools introducing one to
students
as early as third grade. While the advantages provided by this system can be great, there are disadvantages resulting from it
as well
.
The practice of requiring kids to learn a
new
dialect is common in areas where English is not the primary
language
, since it has spread and is the most spoken around the world. Fluency in English is a
very
useful trait in almost every career choice. This is the reason why
young
students
start
lessons from as early as it is possible in order to comprehend the
new
skill
. The main
idea
is the longer kids practice a
language
the more comfortable they
get
with oral and written communication. Aside from this, it provides
young
students
with more choices for the future,
for example
moving to another country for studies or to pursue better career prospects.
On the other hand
, the drawbacks from expecting children to
start
taking lessons on a foreign
language
from a
young
age
should not
be taken
lightly
because
of the significant benefits. Most
students
are under
a lot of
pressure even at a
young
age
to excel in school and a
new
skill
can
only
add
to the already existing baggage.
Some
kids feel that their free
time
is decreasing
so
they
start
to rebel or spend less
time
studying, which is the most serious consequence of the system. Not having
enough
time
to study
properly
can influence
negatively
the
students’
knowledge of the native language.
In conclusion
,
given
my experience I would
agree
that fluency in a second
language
will prove necessary in the children’s future.
However
, we should reconsider, not
only
the
time
spent studying for a foreign
language
,
but
also
the
age
students
start
taking lessons. That way we can achieve the benefits of the
new
skill
while minimizing the possibility of the disadvantages.