IELTS Writing Task 2:
In some countries, schools are teaching foreign languages for primary school children. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Sample Answer band 7.0+
These days, the paramount importance of knowing a foreign language is universally acknowledged, and an increasing number of primary schools have made language teaching an essential part of their curriculum. This has both positive and negative outcomes, and I believe that the demerits are far outweighed by many great merits it brings.
It is undeniable that teaching young children languages is beneficial for several reasons. Young minds are proven to pick up languages much more easily compared to adolescents as their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue. This has the added benefit that children might gain a better understanding of other cultures at an early age, thus facilitating their personal development in later life. Primary schools’ timetables also allow shorter sessions with a play-centered approach, which helps maintain learners’ enthusiasm and progress. In many non-native English-speaking countries, for instance, teenagers tend to feel demotivated and overwhelmed when studying this global language due to their hectic schedule and a huge amount of work needed to complete everyday.
Nonetheless, learning foreign languages at such a young age is associated with drawbacks. The majority of primary teachers are generalists, so they might not have the required knowledge and qualifications themselves. If specialists need to be brought in to deliver these lessons, the flexibility of primary schools’ timetables no longer exists. Let us not forget either that the various levels of ability among young students can be a major disadvantage for secondary schools when it comes to classifying them in different classes. If some are taught what they already know while their peers have zero knowledge of the language, they are highly likely to lose interest sooner or later.
In conclusion, early exposure to language learning benefits individuals and society as a whole. As long as clear policies are adopted, the problems mentioned above could be addressed efficiently and strategically.
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