It is now well established that young children
tend to absorb relatively easily any language
that they are surrounded by, and they
appear to learn to speak a new language
more easily than adults do.
an older student, a child’s language learning
advantage is greatest in the area of pronunciation,
somewhat weaker in the area of
grammar usage, and slight when considering
the size of their vocabulary. Still, the apparent
overall benefit of early learning is leading
many to implement foreign language
programs in elementary school or even earlier.
Is this the best or even an advisable use
of resources, especially children’s time? The
answer depends on what you want to
achieve and how much you are willing to
invest. A few hours a week of foreign language
instruction focusing on learning
words, songs, and a few ritualized
exchanges is good for cultural exposure and
appreciation, but do not expect real mastery.