“We need to change our education system” – utterances such as this one are commonly heard. In German elementary schools a development in teaching focus in the last few years is said to have actually taken place: officially, there has been a small shift from traditional subjects, such as mathematics, on modern languages, such as English or French. Fifteen years ago, however, foreign languages were rarely taught at German elementary schools, and if they were given room in the children’s timetable, they played only a subordinate role. On the contrary, foreign languages are included in the timetable today, but many schools decided to teach them integrated into the other subjects, which makes no teacher feel especially responsible for carrying out the task – most teachers seem to be aware of this deplorable situation but do not want to focus more on languages, needing the time to teach the basics of the other subjects. This cannot be tolerated and there are abundant aspects to why foreign language teaching should start at the latest at elementary school level.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Foreign Languages in Elementary Schools: A Need for Change
- Benefits of Early Foreign Language Exposure
- Cognitive Flexibility and Creative Functioning
- Cultural Understanding and Communication Skills
- Motivation and Receptivity in Childhood
- The Critical Period for Language Acquisition
- Intrinsic Motivation and Positive Attitudes
- Debunking Objections to Early Language Learning
- No Negative Influence on Native Language Development
- Addressing Concerns about Difficulty and Failure
- Real-Life Examples Supporting Early Language Learning
- The Case of Genie: A Girl Deprived of Language
- Joseph Conrad: A Master of English, Yet with a Polish Accent
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay advocates for the increased importance of foreign language education in German elementary schools. It argues that early exposure to foreign languages is crucial for children's cognitive development, cultural understanding, and future career opportunities. The author emphasizes the need for a change in educational policy to prioritize foreign language learning from a young age.
- The benefits of early foreign language exposure for cognitive development, cultural understanding, and communication skills.
- The importance of motivation and receptivity in language acquisition during childhood.
- The refutation of objections to early language learning based on psychological factors and potential difficulties.
- The use of real-life examples to illustrate the impact of language exposure on individuals.
- The call for a change in educational policy in Germany to prioritize foreign language education at the elementary school level.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The essay begins by outlining the current state of foreign language teaching in German elementary schools, highlighting a shift towards greater emphasis on modern languages. It then presents a compelling argument for the benefits of early foreign language exposure, citing research findings on cognitive flexibility, creative functioning, cultural understanding, and global communication skills.
- The author emphasizes the psychological advantages of early language learning, particularly the period before puberty, highlighting children's inherent receptivity and motivation. He argues that young children are more easily motivated and receptive to new languages and cultures, and are eager to imitate sounds and engage with the target language through playful activities.
- Addressing common objections to early language learning, the author refutes claims of negative influence on native language development and concerns about the difficulty of foreign languages for young children. He suggests that lessons should be made fun and engaging through games and songs to overcome these concerns.
- To further strengthen his argument, the author provides real-life examples demonstrating the importance of early language exposure. He cites the case of Genie, who was deprived of language for her first 13 years of life, and Joseph Conrad, a Polish author who wrote in English but retained his Polish accent due to his later language acquisition. These examples highlight the critical period for language learning and the potential for limited proficiency in those who are not exposed to a language early on.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The primary focus of this essay is on the significance of foreign language education in elementary schools. Key terms and concepts include early language exposure, cognitive flexibility, cultural understanding, communication skills, motivation, critical period, native language development, and the impact of language acquisition on future opportunities.
- Quote paper
- Anonym (Author), 2010, Foreign languages should be given a higher priority in German elementary schools!, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1360404
