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SHOULD CHILDREN LEARN A SECOND LANGAUGE

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SHOULD CHILDREN LEARN A SECOND LANGAUGE
SHOULD CHILDREN LEARN A SECOND LANGAUGE?

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Introduction The debate to choose whether children should learn a second language in school is one of the most discussed social issues in the recent generation. With the controversy having an effect on second learners across the world, it is playing out in learning institutions, churches and public congregations. Undeniably, the learning of a second language has changed greatly over the past years. Worth mentioning, increasing public wakefulness of the advantages of early second language learning has resulted to a rise in both second language training, and professional improvement for language tutors. This paper critically presents a discussion on the pros and cons of teaching children a second language at school.

Pros and Cons of Teaching Children a Second Language at School Reflecting on several studies, it is understandable that there are several things that one must put into consideration when deciding whether a second language should be taught at school (Meg, 2011, p. 1). Some of the pros as to why teaching children a second language must be encouraged will be examined in this section accordingly. First and foremost, two languages are considered to be better than one language. According to research learning a second language has proved that it provides learners with a firm grasp of their first language (Crane, 2004, p. 29). Formulating second language phrases rotates around the use of grammar skills, which let one to better understand the regulations of his indigenous language. In one way or the other, this double support results to solid language and understanding comprehension skills that lead to better scores across the board. Building on the opinions of specialists and doctors in the fields of culture and language, it is agreeable that learning a second language promotes effective communication



Bibliography: Crane, M. (2004) English as a second language. New Jersey: Prentice Hall. Diane, L. (2004) Teaching all the children: strategies for development literacy: New York: Penguin Books. Esack, Y. (2004) English start: English as a second language for students and adults. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Hales, S. (2000) Developing Literacy Skills. Cengage: Cengage Learning. Meg, B. (2011) Learning a second language: weighing pros and cons. Retrieved: http://www.education.com/magazine/article/learning-a-second-language/ Miller, J. (2007) English in films: English as second language. New York: New Press. Nancy, R. and Ingrid, P. (2004) Teaching foreign languages to children through video. Available from: http://www.cal.org/resources/digest/0310pufahl.html Patricia, H. (2007) Teaching English as a second language: a prospectus for teachers. London: Penguin Books. White, H. (2005) Developing literacy skills in the early years: a practical guide: Oxford: Oxford University Press.

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