Three Common Misconceptions About Early Language Learning
A growing number of British nurseries have begun teaching French and Mandarin Chinese to toddlers, while some programmes are privately teaching French and other second languages to children from the age of six months. Children learn new languages from their own home, attend after-school programmes and an increasing number now become acquainted with a second language in the classrooms of their primary schools.
Just who are these precocious prattlers? In large part, they are the sons and daughters of astute English-speaking parents who have learnt that acquiring a second language may be, when young, mere child’s play.
Many studies have demonstrated that teaching French or another second language to a child at a young age dramatically increases the possibility that they will achieve fluency and a native-like accent in their second language. And certainly the advantage of viewing the world from a broader and richer perspective is fantastic for any child. In short, all of the scientific evidence indicates that there is absolutely everything to gain and nothing to lose by teaching children French or another second language.
Let's look, however, at three common misconceptions about how learning French or Spanish or Mandarin Chinese or any additional language may affect children. Read more.
Sincerely,
Katie Lagana
Early Advantage |