Write about the following topic:
Foreign Languages should be compulsory in the primary school. How far do you agree with the above statement?
Complete the topic within 20 minutes. Write a 200-300 word essay.
The essay on foreign language has repeatedly been asked in PTE Essay section.
Should Foreign Languages Be Made Compulsory in The Primary School?
Model Answer:
[Submitted by Kapila]
In some countries, children learn a foreign language in addition to their mother tongue at primary classes. Although there are some advantages of this practice, some people argue that it is an additional burden on children. This essay will discuss the importance of learning a foreign language from primary education itself.
Listening skills and memory capacities of bilinguals are higher than people who only got familiar with their mother tongue. For instance, there are only slight differences between similar sounds of different languages. Practicing to identify such minute voice changes improves memory as well as listening capabilities.
A language has its culture bind to it, and foreign language learners get to know about its culture as well. A Srilankan child who learns Japanese can gain the comprehensive understanding of Japanese civilization in addition to the Japanese language. Hence bilinguals can adapt to different environments quickly.
This essay discussed the positive implications of learning a foreign language at an early stage of life including developments in memory as well as listening skills and easy adaptability to diversified situations. Therefore, I agree with the mandatory teaching of foreign languages at primary schools.
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Model Answer 2
In this era of modernization, we are no longer limited to interacting with people from the same culture. The internet and its many wonders have connected people throughout the world. Knowledge of a foreign language can help enhance our social skills as well as pave the way for building relationships with people with a different cultural heritage. In this essay, we will evaluate if foreign languages should be made compulsory at all primary schools.
Primary schools constitute the building blocks of a child’s learning curve. What they learn at this early age plays a pivotal role in shaping their future. There is an inherent belief of ‘the younger the better’. Young children are often bound to be better language learners and retainers. This allows them to become proficient in a particular language in a short duration of time. Today, globalization has taken the world by storm and it is impossible to bury your head
Besides, learning a new language at an early age arms children with a self- confidence to conquer everything that the world has to offer. For instance, I had a colleague who was proficient in 5 national languages besides her native: Russian. Having learned them at a young age, the list of personal and professional opportunities that she encountered were endless.
Thus, this proves that learning a foreign language in primary school has several pros. Not only is this a fun learning activity, in time, it will also reinforce strong social and corporate skills and opportunities in the future. As such, it should be made compulsory.
In some countries children learn a foreign language in addition to their mother tongue at primary classes. Although there are some advantages of this practice some people argue that it is an additional burden on children. This essay will discuss the importance of learning a foreign language from primary education itself.
Listening skills and memory capacities of bilinguals are higher than people who only got familiar with their mother tongue. In order to identify different sounds, the brain has to work harder. For instance, there are only slight differences between similar sounds of different languages. Practicing to identify such minute voice changes improves memory as well as listening capabilities.
A language has its own culture bind with it and foreign language learners are promoted to diversity. A languages developed in a particular country for hundreds or thousands of years nourished with the cultural aspects of that country. A Sri Lankan child who learns Japanese is able to get comprehensive understanding about Japanese civilization in addition to Japanese language. Hence bilinguals have the capability to adapt to different environments easily.
This essay discussed the positive implications of learning a foreign language at an early stage of life including developments in memory as well as listening skills and easy adaptability to diversified situations. Therefore, I totally agree at mandatory teaching of foreign languages at primary schools.