Why learn a second language in early childhood?
Studies show the sooner a child begins to learn a second language, the better. This is partially due to the general abilities of younger children and the importance of stimulation at this stage. At a later age, auditory discrimination and the ability to imitate sounds begin to fade, but fortunately it is possible to learn a second language at any age. Younger students tend to be less fearful of making mistakes and are more willing to go with the flow of communicating in another language. Capture the Critical Period: At about seven months, a baby’s neocortex develops to the point that their long-term memory starts working. This is the beginning of what psycholinguists and neurolinguists call a child’s critical period. During this stage, and until the brain begins losing its plasticity around age 12 or 13, children have their greatest potential to absorb and retain language skills. Speak Like a Native. Language is stored in the brain’s left hemisphere, with pronunciation and grammar in t
