Foreign Language Learning at Early Age; Is it Really Urgent?

Abstract

This presentation discusses issues on children learning a language or languages other than their mother tongue. Although there has been much research done, there are differences in opinions and still a great deal remains to be understood. This paper tries to examine this issue from various perspectives. For instance, whether there is a particular stage a language is better learnt or not; this is very much debatable since there are two contradictive arguments. The discussion about learning of language other than mother tongue which, referred to as age-related issues will be followed by discussing more specifically the issue of learning a foreign language at an early age. Then this paper will also elaborate learning a foreign language at an early age from psycholinguistic, socio-linguistic and pedagogic arguments. Furthermore, this paper will put forward arguments in regards to affordability of implementing foreign language learning at early age.