1. Benefits of Learning a Second
Language at an Earlier Age
Sierra Musa

2. Thesis Statement
Acquiring another language at an earlier age is more
beneficial because it is important for children to be able to
communicate with their families, they are more likely to mimic
and pronounce the words correctly, and tend to have higher
test scores compared to those who do not study a foreign
language.

3. Justification
The purpose of this of this research is to
show that if kids are taught another
language at younger age, they can retain and
know more when communicating with others.
Knowing and understanding other
cultures is a 21st century skill set for
American students as they prepare to
live and work in a global society.
Young learners are naturally
curious, more motivated, open
and accepting of people who
speak another language.
Related to my
major field of
study, Spanish

4. Research
Bilingualism is considered an asset for
children who grow up in families who
speak two languages.
If parents do not speak the native
language at home, the children will
most likely never learn it, which could
then cause problems in communicating
with their parents.
Research shows that literacy skills
transfer between languages if they
have the same writing systems.
Studying a second language while
learning the first is beneficial and the
ideal age to start acquiring another
language by is 12, because of the many
years that lie ahead to continue learning.
More opportunities in the
elementary grades for
relating language studies to
subjects that they are already
learning.

5. Research
Young children want to copy and
mimic the actions that they see.
Children build up their language
through their experience with
objects, by either handling them
or pointing to them, and then
asking for the names of things
and their explanation.
“Object performance”-
Students learn sooner
that an object remains the
same even though the
object has a different
name in another language.
Example:
English- “book”
Spanish- “libro”
Young school aged
children are more
receptive to language
learning. They begin to
compare and contrast the
different sounds and
combinations of letters
and words between both
language
Easily mimic words due to the fact that
their speech muscles have not fully
matured.

6. ResearchOlder children have not
lost all of their ability to
mimic others, their
behaviors and patterns
for pronouncing words
have become established
habits.
Younger learners are less
likely to use reasoning to
understand how to form words
into sentences, whereas those
12 and over study their
experiences to classify things in
a rational way
They then tend to think
of words separately and
just strung together to
form sentences, which is
an analytical approach
Children who study a
foreign language also
tend to have higher test
scores and achievements
in other academic areas.
Language immersion is a
method of teaching a second
language in which the learner’s
second language is the medium
of classroom instruction.
Students learn math, sciences,
and social studies through their
second language. This method
is used to foster bilingualism.
Students who do not study a
foreign language then have
more time to study other
subjects, but those who do
study a foreign language
outperform the students
who do not study a second
language.
Increases critical thinking,
creativity, flexibility of
the mind.

7. Top Reasons to Study a Language
Graduates often cite foreign
language courses as some of
the most valuable courses in
college because of the
communication skills
developed in the process.
By Auburn University
Business skills plus foreign
language skills make an
employee more valuable in
the marketplace.
Analytical skills improve
when students study a foreign
language.
Four out of five new jobs
in the US are created as a
result of foreign trade.
As immigration
increases we need to
prepare for changes
in the American
society.
Foreign language study
enhances listening skills
and memory.
The study of foreign
languages teaches
and encourages
respect for other
peoples: it fosters an
understanding of the
interrelation of
language and human
nature.
One is at a distinct
advantage in the global
market if one is as
bilingual as possible.

8. Opposing Argument
In a 1998 Gallup poll, 63% of the
American public was in favor of the
idea of the “immersion” of non-English
speaking public school students in
regular classes, while 33% were not.
Proposition 227 of California outlaws
bilingual education, making English the
primary medium of instruction for
language minority students.
In 1980, 82% of the public approved of
requiring children who cannot speak
English to learn the language in special
classes before they were enrolled in
public schools
Another 2013 Gallup poll says that 72%
of Americans say that it is essential
that immigrants living in the United
States learn to speak English, while
only 20% believe that it is important for
Americans to learn a second language
other than English
One in three
Americans, or
34%, say
they know a
second
language
well enough
to hold a
conversation

9. Opposing Argument
Children may be resistant
to learn a second language
and may become
frustrated with learning
two languages.
Children go through a number
of phases, could also go
through a phase in language
usage.
A problem at the age of 3 may
not be a problem at the age of 3
and a half, showing that a
child’s developmental phases
usually do not last forever.
Up to the parent’s
discretion as to if they
should continue teaching
the child a second
language.
Parents need to
be consistent with
who speaks what
language to the
child.

10. Rebuttal
Research shows that
foreign language study
improves cognitive
abilities, positively
influences
achievement in other
disciplines, and results
in higher test scores,
especially when study
begins in elementary
school.
Students out-score
their non-foreign
language peers in
verbal and math
sections of
standardized tests.
Research shows
that learning a
third or fourth
language becomes
easier, students
can always switch
languages to suit
their career path.
Increases critical
thinking, creativity,
flexibility of the mind.

11. Solution
Give children the option of studying a
language while in elementary school,
some parents may not want their
children to learn a second language,
but the option would still be there.
If funding is limited for a program,
limit the number of languages
offered to one. This way, students
are exposed to a different culture
and language. If they chose to
continue learning a different
language other than the one offered
at school, this then makes acquiring
a third or fourth language easier.

12. Conclusion
A Pew Research Center study
projects that by the year 2065, the
United States will have 78 million
immigrants, while the current
amount of immigrants is around 45
million
Between 1965 and 2015, new
immigrants, their children, and their
grandchildren make up over half, or
55%, of the United States population
growth
Improved test
scores and
more
opportunities
in the job
market
Younger children are more likely to
pronounce the words correctly since
their speech muscles have not fully
developed yet and they are less self
conscious while speaking
Students who are immersed
in a language perform better
on tests than those who only
learn in their native
language
Many
believe
that it is
not
essential
that
Americans
learn a
second
languageYoung children could become
frustrated while learning two
languages