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Letters: Foreign languages for children
In this globalized world, communication in a foreign language is highly necessary
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n this globalized world, communication in a foreign language is highly necessary. Mastering an international language such as English is a prerequisite for competing for an internationally standardized education and jobs. For that reason, the early teaching of a foreign language has been popular in many countries. In Brunei Darussalam, for instance, English language is the second language from the third grade of elementary schools. Whereas, in Indonesia, quite left behind, it is included one of the main lessons in elementary schools.
Studies show children have better memories than adults. Thus, early it is the exact way to teach them a foreign language. Besides, learning it gives them two benefits: namely, to increase their cognitive ability and to enhance their academic skills.
Caroline Latham said in her article “What is Cognitive Ability/What are Cognitive Abilities?” cognitive abilities are “the brain-based skills and mental processes that are needed to carry out any task – from the simplest to the most complex.” Through exercises such as learning a foreign language, these abilities can be improved.
Studies also show that students who are able to communicate in a foreign language have greater cognitive development than those who are not able to. In her article “Can Language Immersion Lead to Enhanced Creativity?” Sarah Amandolare exemplifies a research study conducted to compare the cognitive abilities of two groups of students. The first group contained those who lived abroad (surely speaking in more than one language) and the second one included monolingual students. The result revealed, when they, for example, were asked to attach a candle to a wall without any wax trickling on the floor, the first group were inclined to find the most creative solution. It was concluded that foreign language proficiency positively stimulated children’s creativity.
Besides, being able to speak another language increases critical thinking and flexibility of mind, as Juliann Talkington admits in her article “Why Children Need to Learn Foreign Languages.” A foreign language becomes a gateway linking two different societies and cultures. With it, children at an early age could get used to accepting knowledge and the values of the country in which it originates. For example, when children can communicate in English, they will easily gain information on, and understand the values of, cultures of English-speaking countries like the USA, the UK and Australia.
This all benefits them to broaden their way of thinking, their life orientation, their knowledge and their career opportunities now and in the future. They will not be so easily snared into fanaticism, because they are used to seeing lingual and social diversities.
Another benefit of being bilingual is to enhance academic skills. In the article “A Working Definition of Critical Thinking” by Michael Scriven and Richard Paul, it is noted that bilingual children have better reading, writing and listening skills as well as skill in mathematics. It is arguable that bilingual children are used to sharpening their brains by their learning of a foreign language. They exercise their imaginations when they are writing a story or an article in a foreign language. They get used to cultivating their memories and concentrating to understand and listen to words and sentences in their second language. As another result, they may have a better understanding of lessons than monolingual students do.
Cecep Zakarias El Bilad
Malang, East Java
