LEARNING FOREIGN LANGUAGE N EARLY AGE

Nowadays, learning a foreign language has increased interest in modern World.

Learning another language does not seem as luxury and it is thought as important and
necessary for people, especially for young children to have one or more than one foreign
language. Since there are a lot of benefits for people in every field their life and being very
essential, foreign language instruction should begin as early as possible in order to internalize
it like native language. Some research show that there are certain differences between given
education of foreign language to 3-5 years old children and 7-9 years old children. For this
reason, learning foreign language should begin in kindergarten related to three main reasons
to be successful later on.
Some people assert that small children are too young to learn foreign language.
They believe that learning two languages in the same time might be confusing and distractive,
for this reason children could not learn and interiorize their native language well. Therefore,
progress of first language could not complete totally and is not developed fully. However, this
idea cannot go further than being only claim. Revolutionary discoveries of how the mind
works have identified that the childs vital years for natural learning are those in preschool
period. In that period there is no difference between learning first or second language and also
thinking, vision attitudes, aptitudes and other characteristics are defined in the third year of
life. (Kotulak, 1996)Similarly, according to Garcia children can learn two or more languages
simultaneously without interlingual interference. They dont have to wait until their first
language is good enough in order to learn second language (1982,p.58) Since childrens
ability of thinking, learning and perceiving are came into existence from third year and
decreased with time, this kind of thoughts are immature claims.

Firstly, it is clear that learning foreign language in early age affects children in terms of
intellectual way. Learning a foreign language at young age enables children to develop their
brains. At this age, childrens minds are like sponges, that is why children can learn new
information easily, quickly, without difficulty. Their capacities are limitless and have less
prevention against learning different information. As Brumen (2011) confirmed that children
are intrinsically motivated and inclinable in foreign language learning; they are satisfied with
their accomplishments, they seek different kind of activities and they are eager to acquire
knowledge. Moreover, children are able to learn more than one language without any
confusion. This situation would help to children expand their minds. Furthermore, reading,
listening, writing and speaking in foreign language enable to children experience coding and
decoding process. Thanks to this process, more connection happens between neurons which is
determining factor of intelligence. If children learn a foreign language during the ages of 3 to
6, they can memorize the pronunciation and grammar easily and accurately, so they can use
this kind of things which is related to new language properly. Although they interrupt the
foreign language learning for a short period of time, they can recall the accurate pronunciation
when they learn the language again in the future. (Shichita, 2000)Thanks to lots of intellectual
benefits, it is ideal to start learning foreign language in kindergarten.
Secondly, learning a foreign language in kindergarten affects children in terms of
social way. People learning a foreign language at young age can enter wider cultural world.
Children are able to develop greater cross-cultural awareness by learning to speak, understand
a different language and thinking. It helps to open ideas of global view and to expose global
perspective. Also it might be given that as a huge benefit children can obtain international
communication and expression skills at early age. Thanks to this ability, children can make
friends easily and empathize with other people speaking the foreign language. This situation

affects childrens all life in terms of their view, thoughts, and relationship between other
people.
Finally, on professional scale, by studying foreign languages in kindergarten young
learners are more likely to have more job opportunities. By learning a foreign language in
kindergarten, children are able to expand their future career horizons. This issue related to
work force, since work force has an increased demand for people who can speak foreign
language like their native language .A second language now becoming a vital part of the basic
preparation for an increasing number of careers. Although knowledge of a second language
does not help graduates obtain a first job, many research shows that their foreign language
skills often enhance their mobility and improve their chances for promotion. In addition, they
have further tangible advantages in the job market (Weatherford, 1986). As well as young
people, children can gain advantages over their peer and they would have opportunity get an
education in country which foreign language spoken. Since a second language becomes part
of total educational process, the demand for bilingual professionals is getting higher; so
children who learn at young age have more chance to get an education in foreign language
also, study and live in country which foreign language spoken.
All in all, it is a big chance for children who learn a new language at young age.
Numerous benefits and opportunities serve to children in their all life. From intellectual scale
to social and professional life, everything is affected from this opportunity. Development of
global attitude, enhancement of cognitive skills, communication skills, personal benefits,
work force enable to children to have a new life and new aspects. Children, the future of our
world, should be improved by teaching a foreign language at young age. Therefore, people
need to be conscious about importance of this issue and of course thanks to numerous
benefits, foreign language education should begin in kindergarten to be successful later on.

REFERENCES

Kotulak, R. (1996). Inside the brain: Revolutionary discoveries of how the mind works.
Kansas: Andrews and McMeel.
Garcia, Eugene E. (1982): Language Acquisition: Phenomenon, theory, and research. B.
Spodek (Ed.), Handbook of research in early childhood education (pp. 47- 64). New York:
The Free Press.
Shichita, Makoto () (2000): Ru ho chi fa yu erh chih li yu tsai neng (
). Taipei ().
Weatherford, H.J. (1986) "Personal Benefits of Foreign Language Study." ERIC Digest,
Washington, DC: ERIC Clearinghouse on Languages and Draft - Rationale for Foreign
Language - pp. 7
Brumen, M. (2011). The perception of and motivation for foreign language learning in preschool. Early Child Development and Care 181(6): 717-732.