Part 3

第一次用外语

7 / 7
7. At what age should children start learning a foreign language?

答案:

The optimal age for children to begin learning a foreign language is often debated, but many experts suggest that starting as early as three to five years old can be beneficial. At this age, children are highly receptive to new sounds and can easily mimic pronunciation, which is crucial for language acquisition. Early exposure not only enhances their linguistic skills but also promotes cognitive development and cultural awareness.

Moreover, learning a foreign language at a young age can foster adaptability and improve problem-solving abilities in children. For instance, bilingual children often exhibit greater creativity and flexibility in thinking. However, it’s important to consider the individual child’s readiness and interest, as well as the availability of quality language programs. Ultimately, while early exposure is advantageous, it is never too late to learn a new language, and motivation plays a key role in successful language acquisition at any age.


助记: optimal age, three to five years, receptive, pronunciation, language acquisition, cognitive development, cultural awareness, adaptability, creativity, motivation.


翻译:

关于儿童应该在什么年龄开始学习外语的问题,专家们常常进行辩论,但许多人建议在三到五岁时开始学习是有益的。在这个年龄段,儿童对新声音的接受能力很强,能够轻松模仿发音,这对于语言习得至关重要。早期接触不仅增强他们的语言技能,还有助于促进认知发展和文化意识。

此外,年轻时学习外语可以培养儿童的适应能力,并提高他们的解决问题能力。例如,双语儿童通常表现出更强的创造力和思维灵活性。然而,重要的是要考虑个别孩子的准备程度和兴趣,以及优质语言项目的可用性。总之,虽然早期接触是有利的,但学习新语言从来都不算太晚,动机在任何年龄段的成功语言习得中都起着关键作用。


笔记:

  1. optimal age (/ˈɒp.tɪ.məl eɪdʒ/) - the most favorable age for a particular purpose, 最佳年龄
  2. receptive (/rɪˈsɛp.tɪv/) - willing to accept new ideas, 愿意接受的
  3. pronunciation (/prəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃən/) - the way in which a word is pronounced, 发音
  4. cognitive development (/ˈkɒɡ.nɪ.tɪv dɪˈvɛl.əp.mənt/) - the progression of mental processes related to knowledge, 认知发展
  5. adaptability (/əˌdæp.təˈbɪl.ɪ.ti/) - the ability to adjust to new conditions, 适应能力
  6. creativity (/ˌkriː.eɪˈtɪv.ɪ.ti/) - the ability to produce new ideas or things, 创造力