In some countries, schools teach foreign languages to primary school children
Do the advantages of teaching foreign languages to young learners outweigh the disadvantages?
Advantages and Disadvantages of Learning a Foreign Language Essay IELTS Writing Task 2
There is no doubt that learning a foreign language is beneficial for children. However, there are also some disadvantages to consider before deciding whether or not to teach foreign languages in primary schools.
One advantage of teaching foreign languages to young learners is that it can help improve their cognitive skills. Studies have shown that children who learn foreign languages tend to be better problem-solvers and more creative thinkers than those who don’t.
Another benefit of early language learning is that it improves students’ academic performance. Research has shown that students who study a foreign language have higher grades and test scores in all subjects than those who don’t. Why? Because learning a new language requires critical thinking skills.
However, on the other hand, some people believe that teaching foreign languages to young children is not beneficial. They argue that it is better to wait until students are older so they can learn the language in its natural context.
Whether or not it is more or less beneficial for children to learn a foreign language at primary school depends on the child’s personality. Some children are more motivated and able to learn at a younger age, while others may not be ready until they are older.
There is no right or wrong answer – it all depends on the individual child. But overall, I believe that learning a foreign language at school provides many benefits for students, which outweigh any disadvantages.
IELTS Writing Task 2
You should spend about 40 minutes on this writing task. Write about the following topic:
Some experts believe that it is better for child to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Learning a Foreign Language IELTS Essay
Sampe Answer:
It is widely accepted that young children have a greater learning capacity for languages than when they are older. There are already many bilingual schools based on this concept. Young children can generally handle two languages much easier without the instinctual need to translate from their native language to the second language. Such is not the case with older children as their first language becomes dominant.
The benefits of learning more than one language as a young child are compelling, as are the benefits of being bilingual or multilingual as an adult. Better cognitive development, mental agility and thinking in a less rigid manner are just some of the benefits. It also equips children with language learning skills for the modern world where work and other daily activities can be globally based.
While learning languages as a young child is a good thing, the time dedicated in the curriculum to learning a foreign language means that there will be something else that is not being taught or learned. Do all children need to learn more than one language? Such a need is difficult to qualify as the necessity for a foreign language may not arise until later in adult life. Moreover, if a child learned French as a foreign language at school, but as an adult needed to learn Russian for work-related reasons, would there be any benefit from having learned French as a child? The answer is probably yes because, as experts say, having already learned a foreign language, learning another foreign language is easier. Why? Because the person now has two references languages: their native language and first foreign language, to refer to and make comparisons. Subsequently, learning a second foreign language is easier.
Young children of primary school age have a greate learning capcity than when they are older and distracted by many things, especially in their teenage years. Therefore, overall, we could assume that the benefits of learning a foreign language as a young child would outweigh the time detracted from other subjects. Why? Because young children would be required to dedicate less time overall to obtain the same linguistic result as a teenager.
How would you answer this IELTS essay question about some experts believe it is better for children to learn a foreign language at primary school?
Discussion Questions
Do you think it's important to learn a foreign language at a young age?
Yes. You can never know enough of a foreign language, not to mention the benefits that come from other cultures and new philosophies you'll gain through doing so.
I've personally gotten a lot out of my time spent learning Spanish because it has exposed me to different ways of thinking about several things.
Being raised in Asia for the first 19 years of my life also gave me an insight into how people live elsewhere on this planet, which has proven quite valuable.
Another advantage of children learning a foreign language at primary school is that it gets them interested in such languages at a young age. As a result, they might even choose to study a foreign language at high school or university.
I've met many people who have said that this is what first got them hooked on learning new things. The challenge of trying to learn something different combined with the adventure of communicating in another language is something that people find attractive.
Would you agree/disagree that learning a new language at an early age is helpful for children?
I would agree that learning a new language at an early age would be helpful. Humans are born with the ability to learn any language; however, for this inherent learning skill to have time to develop, it is most helpful if the brain has ample opportunity and exposure to various languages from a very young age.
Furthermore, the earlier you begin doing something, the easier it becomes. New behaviors like speaking another language become second nature. And I believe learning new things can help prevent cognitive decline later on in life. Keeping your mind active through mental activities like learning a new language will do wonders for overall health!
Should learning a foreign language be compulsory for all children?
Some people would argue that it should be compulsory for all children to learn a foreign language. One such argument might be that it gives children a greater appreciation and understanding of the world.
I think that learning a foreign language would be great for many reasons, but I do not believe it should be compulsory. Therefore, if you're interested in teaching a skill to your kids, then, by all means, go ahead!
There are plenty of tech apps nowadays that can translate, so I think it's more about interest than a need to learn another language.
What are some of the advantages of learning different languages?
If you expect to go abroad somewhere people don't speak your first language, knowing other languages could prove pretty handy and beneficial.
Knowing a foreign language also allows you to appreciate another culture, understand how it differs from yours, and recognize that we all live in this world together. A greater appreciation of other cultures and people will lead to a more tolerant perspective of all people and beliefs!
Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages of learning a foreign language; some are pretty obvious, but we might underestimate others sometimes.
Some people believe that learning many different languages leads to a lower intelligence level. They argue that developing intelligence depends on mastering one language as an individual matures.
However, knowing several languages is beneficial and can also be seen as a form of intelligence. People can see things from more points of view which increases their cognitive skills, and with the rise in globalization, it's becoming more necessary for people to know other languages besides just one!