Win at the Starting Point: Learning a Second Language from Elementary School* [Trans]

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Winning at the Starting Line: Learning a Second Language from Elementary School* Many parents, worried that their children might fall behind from the very beginning, place great emphasis on the importance of English from an early age, even sending their children to kindergartens where only English is spoken. In fact, in addition to what is taught at school, parents can also teach their children English at home; as long as they choose good teaching materials, the children will naturally start speaking English if they are interested. 　　English has almost become the universal language of the world. Apart from our native language, Chinese, English is the most important language in the future world. In places such as ** and Southeast Asia, second languages are taught starting from elementary school, allowing children to naturally learn two languages. Today’s parents, worried that their children might fall behind in English after starting elementary school, expose them to the language even while they are in kindergarten or before. Experts believe that this is not necessarily beneficial for children; although learning English at an early age can enhance their memory, it should be done in moderation so as to prevent them from forgetting their Chinese culture. 　　The advantages and disadvantages of learning English from an early age Experts believe that it is not advisable for children to attend kindergartens where teaching is conducted entirely in English, as schools that do not teach Chinese at all can affect a child’s sense of identity with Chinese culture and may even hinder their learning of the language; as a result, the child will be less prepared when they start elementary school. Experts emphasize that \"learning *all subjects in English weakens the development of children’s vocabulary skills,\" because Chinese allows for expressing very deep meanings, while English has limitations in terms of expression; even if one understands a meaning, it is not possible to convey it accurately, \"which in turn weakens children’s learning in various subjects.\" Moreover, the emphasis on English over Chinese in language use can, in severe cases, affect his sense of identity as a member of his ethnicity, and it may also cause problems for him when transitioning to primary school in the future. Because in elementary school, all subjects are taught in Chinese; if there is no proper transition, even if one attended an all-English kindergarten during early childhood, it becomes impossible to make use of Chinese, which is so important. Of course, it is necessary to expose children to English; this can be done through singing, dancing, and games, giving them the opportunity to come into contact with foreign languages and nursery rhymes. However, teaching methods should not be used, nor should English be the primary means of communication. 　　In fact, many scholars nowadays do not believe that teaching children English at an early age gives them a definite advantage. Starting to learn English early does not guarantee that they will develop an interest in it; it depends on the teaching methods and materials used. If a child is taught by a teacher with imperfect pronunciation, their own pronunciation will also be incorrect. Moreover, if a child lacks analytical skills and is not familiar with learning techniques, their understanding of grammar and semantics will be inferior to that of children in older grades. Of course, it might be better to start learning English pronunciation as early as possible, but this doesn’t mean that it guarantees success in learning English. Experts emphasize that pronunciation is merely imitation, while speaking requires context. If a child doesn’t know enough words, they will only be able to repeat a few simple and common phrases. There’s no need to spend so much money on this, especially since other aspects of learning aren’t addressed either; this is actually not good for the child. 　　“English isn’t everything! ”This is the insight gained by experts through years of teaching: while English is certainly important, if children lack interest, all efforts will be in vain; therefore, arousing interest is the primary condition for learning English. 　　How to arouse a child's interest in English? 　　Many young parents start learning only in middle school, and at that time we were overwhelmed by rote-learning methods, which makes it quite difficult for them to learn English. So, to help the next generation learn English, the most important thing is to spark interest. 　　Fun Teaching Materials 1 Experts believe that to arouse children’s interest in English, it is necessary to have some teaching materials available – these can be interesting English videos, fun English fairy tale books, or even English CDs. It is important to choose materials that suit the children’s interests; if they like singing and dancing, then incorporating these activities in an English context would work well. Appropriate English cartoons are also great. 　　Things with images usually help children understand the content, but the level should be appropriate for their age. If it’s a picture book, try to choose one with fewer words and more illustrations, as this helps to capture the child’s interest. 　　It’s never too late to learn English. There is no perfect time to start learning English; it’s never too late, so parents need not worry. There is no guarantee that learning at a certain time will lead to success, nor is there any guarantee that missing a certain period will prevent success. Experts believe that learning English is like waiting for a bus; if you miss one bus, another will arrive soon. Moreover, intensive teaching is more effective than superficial approaches. Don’t think that starting to learn early is always a good thing; some children are exposed to English at a very young age but end up giving up altogether due to setbacks and developing an aversion to it. 　　Always encourage children 3 It is essential to encourage children regularly. The main reason why many children excel at learning English at an early age is that their parents praise them for even the slightest progress, which motivates them to keep learning. Without this incentive, it doesn’t matter how early they start learning – they won’t develop an interest in English. So it’s not that it’s better to start learning English early; rather, parents of children should not have overly high expectations. In fact, children at any age are suitable to start learning English; the key lies in the parents’ attitude. 　　Parents speaking English at home 4 If parents can speak some English at home, it is also an opportunity for children to learn. One should not rely entirely on kindergartens or tutoring classes outside; putting pressure on them from an early age and taking away their time to play will only make them hate English ； If you add some English to your life. Children can then understand how English is used in daily life, realize that they need to know this language in order to communicate with their parents, and will naturally strive to learn it; therefore, parents should be diligent in setting good examples. However, experts suggest that parents should have the correct pronunciation first before demonstrating it, as you might be the child’s first teacher; by acting as a provider, a source of feedback, and a role model, you can help the child learn English successfully while having fun. 　　The so-called provider is the educator who can offer interesting teaching materials; the giver of encouragement is the one who constantly encourages children; and the role model is someone who can serve as a source of learning for children. Therefore, parents must first have proper English skills in order to serve as role models for their children; if they don’t, they can at least strive to fulfill the first two roles as well. 　　How to choose English textbooks? 　　It is important to choose English teaching materials that are suitable for children in order to arouse their interest. Here are some suggestions from experts: 1. Match the child’s level – Choose materials that correspond to the child’s cognitive level; the difficulty should be appropriate, as materials that are too simple will hinder the child’s learning, while those that are too difficult will cause frustration. 　　2. Choose themes that are close to real life 　　Select teaching materials with themes related to everyday life, observe the child’s interests, and cater to them. Assuming he likes cars, choose teaching materials that feature cars ； If a child likes fruits, choose teaching materials that feature fruits; and by the same logic, help the child connect everyday life with English. 　　3. Choose engaging teaching materials. Select materials that are fun to use, humorous, game-based, stress-free, and interesting; remember not to always make learning a prerequisite – as long as the child finds it enjoyable, they will be willing to learn. Without interest, of course, they won’t want to engage with it. 　　4. Avoid similarity 　　Do not buy too many books at once, as it will be difficult for children to handle that many books. Children are easily distracted; once they lose interest in something, they no longer want to engage with it. If parents buy a large number of books with similar content and format, children may become dissatisfied. Moreover, having already spent money on these books, parents will likely rush their children to finish reading them, and pressure from the parents will only make the children avoid reading in the first place. Experts advise parents to opt for single-volume books that offer variety, and to choose materials that align with their child’s interests; by providing small amounts of learning material at regular intervals, the child’s English skills will gradually improve. 　　5. The theme should be clear. If there is sound, avoid choosing background music that is too complex; the background visuals on a CD should also not be too busy, as this will distract from what the child is supposed to listen to or watch. 　　How to guide children in learning English? 　　Apart from school, parents can also teach their children English at home, but the key is to capture their attention; it’s pointless to just stick English word cards on the sofa or TV if that doesn’t attract their interest at all. It’s better to make your own word cards and picture cards; using bright colors and an engaging approach is necessary to guide him. Also, one can start by choosing children’s songs that he likes to listen to. Since there is a big difference in the pronunciation between Chinese and English, it’s better to let him get used to listening to them first, without any resistance, before introducing him to other songs. Moreover, singing can be learned quickly, which helps children feel a sense of achievement and makes them think that English is simple. 　　Experts emphasize the importance of understanding a child’s development; if parents are unaware of this and keep forcing the child to accept something, the child will instead resist it. The parent-child relationship is not like the teacher-student relationship; if there is too much element of teaching involved, it will not only prevent effective learning but also damage the parent-child relationship. Moreover, parents don’t understand teaching methods; rather than trying to teach them hastily, it’s better to play with them, such as playing cards or doing the games from magazines together. 　　Moreover, not every child has a talent for English; some simply have no interest in languages. One should not force children to excel in this subject just because it is considered important. What parents can do is to provide as many opportunities and learning materials as possible. For a child to be successful, many other factors also need to be in place, and it’s necessary to try different methods. Just because someone says a certain method works doesn’t mean it will work for your child; if your child isn’t interested in it, don’t blame them – it’s possible that the material isn’t suitable for them at the moment, but they might become interested in it later on. 　　It is indeed important to grasp the right timing for learning. If parents want their children to achieve good academic results, they need to pay attention to the appropriate time to start learning English. When a child wants to sleep or play, they tend to have little interest in studying; forcing them to study at such times is pointless. Therefore, a random approach should be adopted, and they shouldn’t be required to sit still and attend lessons at the same time every day. Therefore, opportunities for interaction between parents and children should be seized at all times; times such as going shopping or riding in a car can all be utilized. However, parents need to enrich their body language and ensure that the length of what they say is just right; it shouldn’t be too long. If the conversation is interrupted by other matters and has to be continued later, children usually forget what was said. Therefore, when teaching children English, one must be patient and repeat the lessons over and over again to help them remember. 　　In short, experts say that we should \"take a relaxed attitude toward children learning English,\" and not pass on adults’ anxiety about English to them. If adults themselves are afraid of English, children will also think it is difficult and avoid it. So let children develop naturally, and they will show unexpected behaviors.