Sample 1:

One of the highly controversial issues today relates to whether to begin learning a foreign language at primary school or at secondary school. This essay will further discuss whether extending foreign language study to the primary stages is beneficial and if disadvantages may occur in the later stages.

On one side of the argument, there are people who argue that the benefits of practising a foreign language at primary school considerably outweigh its disadvantages. The main reason for believing this is that the children have the golden age period when they are at elementary school. One good illustration of this is some developed countries have been implementing the bilingual language in the primary school’s curriculum for decades, and most of the children can speak the second language as well as their native language. Another reason is that children are much more enthusiastic about exploring and learning new things at a young age. The timetable for them should allow more frequent, shorter sessions for maintaining learner’s enthusiasm and progress.

Opponents reckon that the students at secondary school are better prepared than at primary school for acquiring a new language. However, there is no actual evidence to support this view and children at their early ages (ranging from 5 to 10) can even learn faster and are better at pronunciation. For example, my second daughter had started to learn English when she was five years old and can speak English more fluently compared to her older sister, who just learnt English when she attended secondary school.

In my opinion, both arguments have their merits. On balance, however, I tend to believe that learning a second language at an earlier age will have a more positive impact on most of the children around the world.

Sample 2:

Traditionally, children have begun studying foreign languages at secondary school, but introducing them earlier is recommended by some educationalists. This policy has been adopted by some educational authorities or individual schools, with both positive and negative outcomes.

The obvious argument in its favour is that young children pick up languages much more easily than teenagers. Their brains are still programmed to acquire their mother tongue, which facilitates learning another language, and unlike adolescents, they are not inhibited by self-consciousness.

The greater flexibility of the primary timetable allows for more frequent, shorter sessions and for a play-centred approach, thus maintaining learners’ enthusiasm and progress. Their command of the language in later life will benefit from this early exposure while learning other languages subsequently will be easier for them. They may also gain a better understanding of other cultures.

There are, however, some disadvantages. Primary schools’ teachers are generalists and may not have the necessary skill themselves. If specialists have to be brought in to deliver these sessions, the flexibility referred to above is diminished. If primary language teaching is not standardised, secondary schools could be faced with a great variety of levels in different languages within their intake, resulting in a classroom experience which undoes the earlier gains. There is no advantage if enthusiastic primary pupils become demotivated as soon as they change schools. However, these issues can be addressed strategically within the policy adopted.

Anything which encourages language learning benefits society culturally and economically, and early exposure to language learning contributes to this. Young children’s innate abilities should be harnessed to make these benefits more achievable.

Sample 3:

The discourse on the prime period for initiating foreign language education in children - primary versus secondary school - remains a pivotal one. This essay asserts that the advantages of early linguistic engagement substantially outweigh its potential downsides, focusing on enhanced cognitive development and early cultural integration as key benefits.

Embarking on foreign language learning during primary education is instrumental in bolstering cognitive prowess. At this developmental stage, children's brains exhibit remarkable plasticity, making them adept at absorbing new linguistic structures with relative ease compared to their older counterparts. This early linguistic immersion not only accelerates language acquisition but also enriches cognitive functions such as memory, attention, and multitasking capabilities. An illustrative example of this is observed in a longitudinal study by Stanford University, which demonstrated that children who learned a second language before the age of 5 exhibited significantly higher cognitive test scores in subsequent years. Beyond cognitive benefits, early language learning serves as a conduit for cultural immersion. It allows young learners to cultivate an authentic appreciation and understanding of different cultures from an early age, fostering a sense of global citizenship and empathy. Such exposure is invaluable in our interconnected world, laying the groundwork for more harmonious international relations in their future endeavors.

Despite these advantages, there are concerns regarding potential overload and distraction from primary language mastery. Nevertheless, empirical studies consistently refute this, showing that bilingualism can actually reinforce the mastery of both languages, enhancing linguistic dexterity and communication skills across the board.

In summation, the introduction of foreign languages at the primary school level presents a profound opportunity for cognitive and cultural development, far outweighing any suggested disadvantages. This approach not only prepares children for a globalized future but also equips them with a suite of cognitive and interpersonal skills that stand to benefit them throughout their lives. Hence, the early acquisition of a foreign language emerges as a highly beneficial educational strategy.

Sample 4:

The debate over the optimal stage for children to embark on learning a foreign language - primary as opposed to secondary school - garners significant attention. This essay posits that the merits of early language acquisition distinctly overshadow its drawbacks, particularly in terms of cognitive flexibility and cultural awareness.

Firstly, initiating foreign language study at the primary level significantly enhances cognitive development. Children at this age are at a peak learning phase, demonstrating an exceptional ability to assimilate new sounds and structures with ease, a phenomenon less pronounced in older learners. This early exposure not only sharpens their linguistic acuity but also fosters superior problem-solving skills and creativity. For instance, a study by the University of Edinburgh found that bilingual children outperformed monolingual peers in tasks requiring mental flexibility and innovation. Moreover, early language learning contributes to a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures. By interacting with a new language, children develop a broader perspective, becoming more empathetic and open-minded towards people from different backgrounds. This cultural sensitivity is imperative in our increasingly globalized world, where cross-cultural communication is a cornerstone of both personal and professional success.

Conversely, critics argue that introducing a foreign language at a young age could burden children, potentially hampering their proficiency in their native language. However, this concern is mitigated by evidence suggesting that bilingualism actually enhances linguistic skills in both languages, as the process of learning a second language can reinforce understanding and usage of the first.

In conclusion, the advantages of beginning foreign language education in primary school far surpass any perceived disadvantages. This approach not only cultivates advanced cognitive abilities and a global mindset in young learners but also equips them with valuable skills that benefit their personal and academic growth. Therefore, it is clear that early foreign language learning is a beneficial investment in a child's future.

Sample 5:

Some experts think that it is more advantageous for children to start studying a foreign language at primary school rather than at secondary school. Though there is a risk of failure and frustration, in my opinion, the advantage of teaching children a foreign language at their early stage obviously outweighs its disadvantages because they can learn fast enough compared to that of the other age groups.

It is undoubted that starting to learn a foreign language at primary school can be risky for some children, because of the amount of time which needs to be dedicated to this difficult learning process, and the eventuality to feel a deep sense of frustration in case of unsuccess. In effect, children who are involved in studying a foreign language must dedicate less time to games with their peers and to any kind of leisure activity. As a result, this attitude can damage their ability to socially interact and hinder their behavioural development. Moreover, children who do not succeed in learning a foreign language at primary school can feel depressed and frustrated, and this can seriously damage their self-esteem during adulthood.

On the contrary, it is undeniable that there are some important advantages related to this approach, such as the increased facility to learn a foreign language when this is taught at primary school, and the development of the capacity to solve complex problems more easily. In fact, it is demonstrated by past and recent studies that at an early age children’s brain can easily remember words’ sounds and meanings much better than that of adults, and consequently a new language can be easily learnt during childhood. In addition, today we know that when children speak two or more languages at an early age, they activate some particular brain regions, which are normally involved when they are required to solve complex mathematical or geometrical problems.

In conclusion, although children can have some major problems if they start learning a foreign language at a primary school level rather than later, because it might cost their time with peers and even success in the foreign language learning. However, as the primary class children are sharper in memory and problem solution skills, I believe it is more advantageous to teach them a foreign language than that of the disadvantages it can cause.

Sample 6:

Some experts believe that starting learning another language at primary level is better than at secondary level. I think the downside of this outweighs the upside because young pupils may have a great workload as a result.

On the one hand, young children are better language learners than older ones. Primary school-aged children are at an early stage of learning, and therefore tend to be very open to new ideas. That is to say, they are less likely to find the different pronunciation and grammar of a foreign language strange and difficult to learn than their counterparts at secondary school. However, I do not think this gives them a major advantage in life because many people have become successful, either professionally or financially, without mastering a second language.

On the other hand, studying a new language at primary level can greatly increase young pupils' workloads. One more language to learn means more classes to take and more schoolwork to do. Take China, where English is compulsory at all primary schools, as an example. Chinese schoolchildren often spend about half an hour every weekday just on their English homework. And to outperform their peers, many of them enrol in weekend English classes. I think this puts young children at a great disadvantage because at their age, they should spend more time enjoying leisure activities rather than burying themselves in endless academic tasks.

In conclusion, although primary school-aged children tend to be good at acquiring a foreign language, I believe this advantage is far outweighed by the disadvantage of the heavy workloads that come with it.

Sample 7:

In recent years, learning foreign languages play an important role at school. A number of experts suppose that children who start studying a foreign language in elementary school would be more advantageous than doing this in middle school. Discussed below are several benefits as well as drawbacks of this issue.

Undoubtedly, there are many benefits of studying foreign languages at young age. Firstly, children can be easier to accumulate knowledge in comparison with teenagers. This is because of the fact that in this period, their brains are in the process of remarkable development so it’s likely for them to memorize what they learn. Secondly, children at primary school probably have more time and chances to learn a foreign language. At this age, they are hardly worried about anything, so they may have a lot of opportunities to practice and enrich their knowledge. Moreover, learning foreign languages helps students more confident in communication. The way they speak a new language is also the way they show their style, ability and character in general. In addition, it is believed that languages are the key to discover the world. For instance, when a young child is good at an international language as English, he or she can get information from the Internet more easily.

In spite of the benefits, there still exist some drawbacks of learning foreign languages of students at primary school. For one thing, learning another language may make some students stressful because at this age, it would be difficult for them to focus on hard knowledge. Especially for those who don’t have an aptitude for languages, they could be bored and feed up with studying. For another, some students even have trouble with languages. As a result, they have to struggle with learning at school. They have less time for other activities and subjects.

To sum up, I agree that although there are some disadvantages, students should be learnt foreign language at primary school more than starting this at secondary one. It’s necessary for them to improve their knowledge and skills.

Sample 8:

Due to the advancements in communication systems, the relationamong nations has been increased markedly. As a result of this, learning a foreign language at an early age has become acontroversial issue in the global village. Some experts claim thatprimary school is the best place for learning another language insteadof secondary school. I firmly believe that there is a defensible basisfor this argument.

The proponents of this view discuss that there are many reasonsbehind of their claims. The most important one is about recentresearch. The studies have shown that the children between 4-9 ageshave a great opportunity to learn new languages. Also, they clarifytheir claims by an example, a survey among 200 pupils, has shownthat the abovementioned ages have a crucial role in children buildingcharacter and developing their personality. Moreover, give the specialcare and settle down proper curriculum could be much beneficial forthem in this way. Consequently, because of carefree mind childrencan catch more points in this level.

In parallel, I personally side with this idea. The key point to justifythis attitude could be illustrated by a personal tangible example. Acouple of years ago, I met a German family with an interesting story. To cut the long story short, Lucas, the first child of the family, hasstarted learning the English language at secondary school and nowthe level of his English skill is almost intermediate. Conversely, hissister has started English and France together at primary school. Now, she can speak very fluently both of them. On balance, beyond ashadow of a doubt, the primary school can pave the way for learninga foreign language easily. Although, it should be considered that themethod and atmosphere of the school play a key role in learning. 

All in all, we should own up to the fact that learning a foreignlanguage has become a key factor in our lifelong. It goes withoutsaying, having a strong basis in a new language can uplift us towardsprosperity. Primary schools are the best places to enhance ourchildren's language ability. Also, in this special span, the pupil’s mindsare dead ready to catch an awful lot of new things and what couldbetter than learning a second language than that.

Sample 9:

It is widely believed that studying a foreign language in the first yearof school is more effective than in secondary school for children. Drawbacks and benefits of this topic will be covered in this essay.

On the one hand, pupils studying only three or four years in theschool even at that moment do not properly concentrate on thelessons. It could be difficult to compel children to learn somethingelse besides their curriculum subjects. For instance, my little sisteralways wants to play, even if there are loose ends. In addition, students of a primary school firstly should learn the fundamentals ofexact science such as mathematics and physics. Otherwise, theymight not understand them later. Furthermore, if a student does notknow his native language perfectly, it is useless to learn a foreigndialect for him.

On the other hand, this is a fact that children, who are approximatelybetween five and nine years, have the capacity to remember thingstwice as fast and effectively than people from other age groups. Forexample, when I was in the third-fifth grades, I used to memorisenew words very quickly and for a long period. However, now Icannot even learn many new phrases. Secondly, studying a foreignlanguage is very helpful. Students can understand the expression, lifestyle and culture of a different country and is helpful for enhancingtheir perspectives. English is an international language on which overone billion of people are communicating. Hence, being able to learn asecond language will give competitive advantages for the children. 

To sum up, the minor disadvantages will never prevent us fromconcluding that knowing foreign phrases will be never excessive. Infuture knowing one more language might be very prestigious.

Sample 10:

Learning a foreign language is a new trend followed nowadays. Evenin schools’ curriculum, a subject with a different language is a must. Many believe that students at primary schools should start learning aforeign tongue and should not wait till secondary school level. I alsobelieve that it has several advantages. The growth of an individualbrain and increase in opportunities will support the argument. Firstly, learning a foreign language is helpful for the growth of achild’s brain. A study by United Nations has proved that learning anylanguage other than the native one activates various new parts of thebrain which were never used before. As a result, it increases thegrasping and learning-power of a child. Not only this, but it also accelerates the working of one’s brain. Therefore, making kids tolearn a new language at an early age will help them in their mentalgrowth.

Also, nowadays people are getting drifted towards multinationalcompanies. Here, opportunities are more for employees who know more than one language. Being multilingual helps a person get onsiteopportunities. Hence, getting growth in career depends on this. Infosys, for instance, gives priority to their employees who have agood command over the English language, for any vacancy they havein the USA. So, getting used to a language at an early age will makeone comfortable and confident.

Looking at the points discussed above, we can come to a conclusionthat advantages of learning a foreign language at an early ageoutweigh the disadvantages. Therefore, this practice must be followedby all the nations. I believe many countries will include a foreignlanguage in its school as a mandatory subject for the advantages ithas to offer.

Sample 11:

Some experts think that the best time for young people to learn anew language is at primary school. While this could bring manybenefits and drawbacks. I believe that the advantages are far morethan the disadvantages.

Learning a foreign language at primary could have some possibledisadvantages. Firstly, it could be a waste of time since children needto focus on other subjects such as math, science, and their ownmother tongue language, which they might need it more than theforeign one. Secondly, children may get confused because of learningmany languages at the same time and this could have a negativeimpact on their development. For example, it is claimed that bilingualchildren develop the ability to talk more slowly than monolingual kids.

On the other hand, I think that children learn faster at a young agebecause they are less self-conscious and shy. So, they can easily pickup the right pronunciation and try to copy it. Furthermore, childrenenjoy practising languages through games. Thus, learning andcopying others could be a fun in itself for them. In other words, forchildren learning languages is not a hard task as it is for adults. In addition, languages nowadays are as important as science and math. Acquiring an international language like English could be veryimportant for young people to get better job opportunities in thefuture.

In conclusion, it seems to me that the benefits of teaching childrenforeign languages as soon as possible outweigh the drawbacks.

Sample 12:

In today's modern world, language plays an indispensable role in both studies and jobs as well as during socialising. Thus, some professionals encourage the children nowadays to start learning a foreign language at primary school and claim that it will be too latefor children to learn it in secondary school. In this essay, we willexamine both the benefits and drawbacks of this issue. Undoubtedly, learning a totally new language is tiring and requires more time to master it. It, indirectly, increases the burden of aprimary school pupil who is supposed to learn new things in a stress-free environment. If they have to learn a new language in primary school, they will be loaded with more tonnes of homework every day. In fact, more time should be allocated to study more useful subjects such as Science and Mathematics. These subjects are considered asstepping stones to a prospective job. If one day they become ascientist or a doctor, they may contribute endlessly to our nation byinventing essential drugs in combating diseases.

However, there is another side of a coin always. To begin with, picking up a foreign language enables the children to develop a better foundation in a foreign language. They are more likely to speak it more confidently in front of the crowds. It is proven that children who learn a new language tend to make fewer mistakes in writing anessay. Not forgetting to mention that they will have the ability to express things more clearly as they have a better vocabulary than those who start late. In addition, they may come across with foreign cultures when learning a foreign language. To illustrate, it can be learnt from the literature and poems. By knowing the culture of others, they may not experience cultural shock and are able to adaptwell when staying in other countries for the purpose of studying. They are, obviously, become more knowledgeable and more open-mindedwhich help them to look at a specific issue from differentperspectives.

In conclusion, the benefits of learning a foreign language in primary education apparently outweigh the drawbacks. I believe a person equipped with more languages is definitely needed in our society tomake our country more prosperous and flourished in the decade tocome.

Sample 13:

Some authorities think that it is more favorable for pupils to begin studying languages at primary school instead of secondary school. This essay will argue that the advantages of this outweigh the drawbacks. The essay will first demonstrate that the earlier someone learns an additional language the more likely they are to master it and that it brings added cognitive benefits, followed by an analysis of how the primary disadvantage, namely confusion with their native tongue, is not valid.

The main reason to start kids off with foreign languages early is that this increases the likelihood they will achieve fluency in adulthood. That is to say that they will have far more years to perfect their skills, and it will seem perfectly normal to speak bilingually. For example, in countries such as Holland and Norway where English is taught from a very young age, more than 95% of adults speak it at an advanced level. Learning a second language also helps to improve overall cognitive abilities. In other words, it benefits the overall development of a child’s brain. A recent survey by Cambridge University found that children who studied a new language before the age of 5 were significantly more likely to score higher in Mathematics and Science.

Those opposed to this say that it causes the child to become confused between their mother tongue and the other language. However, there is actually no evidence to support this view and children from bilingual families do just as well in both languages. My own son was brought up speaking both Vietnamese and English and outperforms most of his classmates in both.

On balance, the fact that early foreign language learning leads to higher fluency and improved brain function clearly outweighs the flawed argument that it impairs uptake of native languages.

Sample 14:

Foreign languages have become a key component of school curriculum in many parts of the world. But whether children should learn them at primary or secondary school is a topic of frequent discussion. Some people argue that children should be introduced to international languages at primary level. Personally, I believe that the pros of this early exposure of foreign languages outnumber the cons.

To begin with, in today’s globalized world, it is almost impossible to deny the significance of being a bilingual or a multilingual. Our foreign language abilities play a defining role in every field, be it finding a dream job in a multinational company or settling in a new country. Therefore, teaching international languages to young pupils is a major step towards their bright future. More importantly, children’s minds are highly receptive when they are young. They can learn anything much more quickly than adults and are not afraid of making mistakes. These early language lessons can not only boost the confidence level of learners but also help them attain native-like fluency. These classes will also have a positive impact on children’s social life.

On the other hand, the negatives of making children learn an international language when they do not understand its value should not be overlooked. Most schools, especially the Asian ones, have many subjects like science, mathematics, history and geography etc. in their curriculum. As a result, young students have a lot to learn. So, including one more subject in the form of a foreign language definitely puts additional pressure on children. Some learners find it hard to cope with this extra work. It is often observed that if students do not get the support they need, they tend to lose their interest in the language.

To sum up, language acquisition is a gradual process. The sooner it begins, the better the results will be. I believe that careful lesson planning can make the entire learning experience enjoyable and rewarding for every child.

Sample 15:

It is widely believed that studying foreign language for children in the first education level is more effective than in secondary school. While some educationalists recommended it, I believe that the drawbacks to study second language in the first year are more than the benefits that might be gained by children.

Admittedly, learning other languages is important for children. It is more likely related to their intelligence. The earlier they introduced to some languages, the easier for them to understand it well. The study conducted by Cynthia Garcia Coll, a researcher of Brown University, discovered that children at the preteen age will master other languages effectively than those who start to learn after this period. The student at secondary school will experience some difficulties to memorize words and practice the language in daily life fluently. Thus, it is evident that introducing foreign language for children as soon as possible, in particular primary school is good for their development.

However, there is a huge risk of studying foreign language for children in the primary school. One of the major considerable reasons is that, as the first education level, pupils still adapt to use their natural language. They can be confused to distinguish both of native and second languages. Thus, they are likely to suffer dyslexia, a common disease found in children of primary school. The problems include diff1iculties in spelling words, reading quickly, writing words, and understanding what one reads. The second reason is children who practice bilingual will experience some difficulties to interact in the society. They become reluctant to adapt and isolated in the environment. Moreover, pupil studying another language is possible to lose their nationality soon. They become more likely to learn other languages and have a better understanding ...