Learning a foreign language: the earlier the better?

LEOhuazai (Japan)

Definitely. The earlier, the better.

Wwhen kids are in their early years, they are more receptive to new things, especially language, they can memorize the words deeply and these words may stay with them their whole life, and what is more, this preschool language learning can stimulate their interest in language learning and on some level help them build confidence in school, where they find they are ahead of other classmates, in this case, they will be more enthusiastic about the language, which is the trick to learn language. As a student who got in touch with English at middle school, I find it is hard to keep pace with other lucky students, although I can make it up through diligence, while their sense of English is innate. Actually the best way is sending your kids abroad if you can afford it, in such a language environment, I bet that they can speak native English in just 3 or 4 years.

An American teacher in an English class at a suburban school in Hefei, East China's Anhui province, Sept 11, 2012. The man, known to his students as Benlong, came to China from the United States in 2001 and has worked in many cities since.[Photo/Xinhua]