How Foreign Language Teaching Benefits Young Learners (Part 1 of 2)

There has been a great effort over the last decade to embed the teaching of MFL (modern foreign languages) in Primary schools. Seen by the Labour government of 1997-2010 as an essential element of the curriculum, learning a language at an early age can have a wide array of benefits for a child's education. Despite this, scepticism about MFL's place in the curriculum still exists. This article will explore the many benefits that MFL teaching has for young learners, and why it is now widely believed that languages should be taught in schools as early as possible.

'Language learning supports oracy and literacy'

Past government documents exploring the issue suggest that learning an MFL gives young children the chance to play with an unfamiliar set of sounds and words. As the child starts to get to grips with the language, they experiment with the different sounds and structures, sometimes finding great joy in discovering the double meanings certain words can have across two languages. Not only is language learning fun for the child, it encourages them to reflect on their own language and the way it works. It can also help build their confidence in using language creatively with others!

'Language learning leads to gains across the curriculum'

MFL teaching in schools clearly benefits the child as they get to grips with the rules of language, allowing the further development of their reading, writing and speaking skills. At the same time, education in a foreign language links effectively with other areas of the curriculum. With maths, for example, children could be taught the Spanish names for numbers and reinforce their knowledge of both subjects by doing sums in the new language. Or with geography, a sense of pride might be gained as the child learns how to say a country's name in its mother tongue.

'Language learning encourages greater understanding of other cultures'

As the child discovers the intricacies of a language, they are also exposed to cultural beliefs and practices which are different from their own. The result is that they gain a greater tolerance of alternative viewpoints, subsequently becoming more aware of their own identity and their place within the wider world. MFL teaching therefore serves an important cultural function and works to add balance to the national curriculum.

'Language learning provides the foundation for success later in education'

Language learning at Primary level can only be a good thing for the long-term academic success of the child. Not only does it leave the child well-prepared for developing their language skills later on, it also helps to make children more enthusiastic about pursuing language learning to the highest level. With the declining number of people taking languages at A-Level, and a recognised need for linguists in the business world, MFL teaching at an early stage may provide the foundation for a future multilingual British nation.

The potential benefits, then, are clear to see. But what is the best way to teach foreign languages at this level, and why do some see MFL teaching as a difficult and unnecessary distraction? These questions, along with the potential role of e-learning, will be explored in the next article in this series.

Hannah McCarthy is Marketing Executive for Education City, whose award-winning e-Learning tools help kids to engage with and enjoy language learning. These teaching resources use online activities and fun french games for kids to make MFLs an exciting part of the national curriculum.