Expert: Debba Robinson - 3/21/2005

Question
hi,Debba !
my question is " children  who are from 3 to 7 years old,if the school teachs them the second language ,for example,English or Japanese or French etc.i want to know the second language's benefits for the children .i have heard that the baby should be given another language because it can help them enhance their own languge or native  language but not interfere with it.Have the second language another function ?thanks!

Answer
Dear Mary May,

Young children (birth to about 7 or 8) are language sponges.  Assuming we want our children to learn a second language to be an active part of the global community, these are the best years to start it.  The brain is set up to absorb new words and languages, in general.  Around age 7 or 8, the brain closes the door for language acquisition, assuming the child has identified the mother tongue.  After that it becomes MUCH more difficult for most people to learn a new language - and those who learn it after the 'door' closes often will retain their accent brought on my their first language.

In my experience in international schools for the past 25 years, children who learn from a very early age generally have almost no accent in any of the languages they might learn.  I had a student in second grade who spoke 5 languages fluently (for her age) and she could flip from one to the other without missing a beat when people, needing each language she knew, happened to be standing around her.  AMAZING!  

Learning other languages will keep the language 'door' open much longer and children will use a part of the brain that otherwise might not develop so powerfully.  The children have an automatic relationship with newcomers and often are much more excited about learning more about the world because of their language development.  American children who weren't exposed to a foreign language until middle school often struggled with the concept of the new language and felt very timid to speak out, and possibly make a mistake, in front of their peers.  Young children have no such fear and are dauntless in their efforts to make others understand, even if they aren't speaking with correct grammar.

I hope that your children, or those for whom you decided to ask this question, will celebrate the opportunity to have young children taught any languages that the school system can offer!

Debba