when is the best time for a child to study foreign language?
By zhouxi
@zhouxi (1752)
China
October 16, 2009 8:17am CST
Some parents ask me when is the best time for their child to study foreign language? i 'm not sure.i find some children study english at kindergarten,some of them could n't master their native language then.some students study english at high school or even in university,they can master it well.do you think children should study foreign language the early the better?
5 responses
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Yes,I think the earlier the better, especially when it comes to the conversational aspect of it. Anyway, there is no way they can learn the rudiments of the grammar at a very early stage. Just the ability for them to say what's on their minds in a foreign language and you will be surprised, it's easy for them to do it. It doesn't mean though that their ability to use their own mother tongue will deteriorate.
have fun.
1 person likes this
@manong05 (5027)
• Philippines
16 Oct 09
Yes I have observed this in my children. We lived in Bangkok for a while and I noticed that after a short period of time, they picked up Thai. When they talk with the local children, they use Thai, when playing with westerners, they use English and at home we use the Filipino language. How children learn things is absolutely amazing.
1 person likes this
@chazzief (237)
• Malaysia
2 Feb 10
I studied Language and Psychology in university and I found out that the best time for children to acquire language is when they are 3 to 4 years old and their ability to grasp the language can be increase for few years later. However, parents needs to ensure that the children make use of the language by practicing it so that they won't forget it. The language should grow along with the children.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
17 Oct 09
Hello zhouxi. Nowadays in most primary schools, English is taught in the students' third year or when they are in Grade 3. I think that it is ok for kids to learn English at a very young age as it is easier for them to learn a foreign language, but it is very important for the teacher to arouse kids' interest, otherwise they will find it difficult and would not be happy to learn it...
1 person likes this
@muzaandwyna (57)
• Philippines
24 Oct 09
I have read from a scientific finding that it would be best to start teaching kids 'em languages from the moment they are able to interact (through speaking coherent and sensible words) up until 7 years of age. After seven years, a child's capacity for learning different language somehow declines with increasing age.
