[ELTWeekly Volume 7, Issue 3 | January 19, 2015 | ISSN 0975-3036]
Victoria Murphy says, “For the past few decades there has been a growing interest in child second language (L2) learning, particularly evidenced by the fact that increasingly around the world children are required to learn a second language in the primary school classroom. For example, Qiang (2002) reports that as of 2001 English language became a formal taught subject in the Chinese primary curriculum beginning at age 8 (grade 3) in order to increase the English language skills of China’s population. Similarly in the UK, Modern Foreign Language (MFL) learning has been re-introduced into the English primary curriculum after a long absence. As of 2014, native English-speaking children at Key Stage 2 (starting at 7 years old) are entitled to learn a MFL. These two examples illustrate that governments are showing a greater commitment to learning a (second) language during the primary school years. What has led to this decision?
Is age a critical factor?
One issue that appears in many of the reports available from the UK government highlights the ease with which children in primary school are able to pick up foreign language learning. For example the DCSF report ‘Languages for all, Languages for Life’ states that “If a child’s talent and natural interest in languages is to flourish, early language learning opportunities need to be provided, and their aptitude needs to be tapped into at the earliest opportunity when they are most receptive.” (DCSF, 2002)”.