When should children start a foreign language?

Learning a foreign language is a valuable skill. Some people believe that children should begin at primary school, while others prefer to wait until secondary school. I think that an early start is better, although it must be done in the right way.

Those who support a later start argue that young children have much to learn already. They must master reading, writing and mathematics in their own language, and a second language might confuse them or take time from these basic subjects. In addition, many primary schools do not have teachers who speak a foreign language well, so pupils may learn mistakes that are difficult to correct later.

However, I believe that the advantages of an early start are greater. Young children are good at copying sounds, so they usually speak with a more natural accent than students who begin as teenagers. They also feel less shy about making mistakes, which helps them to practise. If a child hears a language for several years, it becomes familiar, and secondary school lessons can then deal with more advanced work instead of the basics.

To succeed, primary schools need trained teachers and lessons that are based on songs, games and stories instead of long lists of words. A short lesson every day is more useful than a long lesson once a week.

In conclusion, although there are some difficulties, teaching a foreign language in primary school gives children a strong start, and I support this approach as long as the lessons are well planned.

Why it works

• Both views are given a full paragraph, and the writer's opinion is clear in the introduction and the conclusion.
• The fourth paragraph adds a condition, which makes the opinion more careful.
• Linking words such as however, in addition and to succeed keep the argument connected.