剑桥9 谢振礼 雅思范文: 早学外语
Cambridge English 9
IELTS Writing Task 2
Topic:
Some experts believe that it is better for children to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Essay: ielts360toefl@hotmal.com writing correction service
Have you ever heard of children referred to as “sponges” ? This metaphor could not be more accurate when it comes to a child “sucking in” a foreign tongue as early as possible (as three years old ). Even though it is never too old to learn anything new, starting to learn a foreign language at secondary school is good, but primary school is relatively better, according to scientists.
Some people think that secondary school, rather than primary school, is the right time for children to begin learning a foreign language, probably for wrong reasons. Firstly, exposure to a foreign language at a time earlier than secondary school can damage pronunciation features in the mother tongue. Secondly, there are worries that primary school students make often get confused, not being able to differentiate bilingual systems. Thirdly, school children need to master other, more important subjects, such as mathematics or writing, which means that children will simply have not enough time to study a foreign language. Fourthly, learning a foreign language too early could delay development of a child’s first language. In view of these points, many countries (mistakenly) prefer to introduce foreign-language courses at secondary school, not earlier.
Most people, however, agree to scientific findings that it is more beneficial for children to commence learning a foreign language at primary school rather than secondary school. This is exactly what scientists would explain. This begin with, children at primary school are able to “absorb” a foreign language at an impressive rate, which will result in much easier and better fluency than if they learn later in life. Not only that, but they are essentially able to speak the language perfectly and without an accent. In comparison, children at secondary school will lose gradually the ability to hear and reproduce new sounds as they did when they were younger, making foreign language acquisition more difficult, although not impossible. In sum, the benefits of foreign language studies at primary school have been supported by scientific research and far outweigh possible drawbacks.
In conclusion, it has become more evident that it is better to begin learning a foreign language at primary school rather than at secondary school, although nobody is too old to learn a new language. Children at primary school or even younger can soak up linguistic features like water or soil. Figuratively, they are like “sponges.”
