Page 10 - ELG1706 Jun Issue 448

RESEARCH NEWS .

Not-so-bright

and early

Education policy makers have been

emphasising the importance of
starting foreign language learning

early…but could it be a waste of
time?

By Claudia Civinini 5,130 students, half of whom had foreign languages plus the mother They could even be a waste
When it comes to learning a started EFL instruction in year 3 tongue) goal of the European of time. ‘Under non-immersive
foreign language, the earlier, the and half in year 1. Union. It is common for foreign conditions or without increased
better – right? Think again. The researchers used language education to be started exposure in school environments,
This common assumption standardised tests to assess their early, at primary level. amount of exposure seems more
may join the ever-growing group English reading and listening skills However, there is a gap between important than time of onset’, the
of edu-myths unless policies twice. research and policy. ‘Either authors said.
for introducing early language In year 5, the early starters had research does not inform policy The policy of starting early
learning in schools have a stronger a significant advantage of 27.5 making well enough, or it has been has also received criticism as it
evidence base, research suggests. points in reading and 33.6 points misinterpreted’, the authors argue. has been implemented without
A new study found that while in listening. However, by year 7, Research shows that older enough appropriately trained
pupils who had started learning the late starters (LS Cohort) had learners have a cognitive teachers. Dr Jaekel told the
English in year 1 had a temporary not only closed the gap, but also advantage, in that they can learn Gazette that this has improved
advantage on those who had outperformed the early starters (ES explicitly and learn faster. Younger thanks to new degree courses for
started in year 3, by year 7 the late Cohort), reaching an advantage learners meanwhile need more language teachers being launched
starters significantly outperformed of 34 points in reading and 17 in time as they are taught with in Germany.
the early starters (see graph). The listening (see graph below). implicit methods, such as those One limitation of the study
longitudinal study was carried out The majority of states in based on playful acquisition. was that it was conducted in the
in the North-Rhine-Westphalia Germany, the paper explains, aim These findings suggest that first year of the implementation
region of Germany, where early for students to reach A1 level by young learners need more contact of the early learning policy, the
EFL education – consisting of two the end of primary school (year 4). hours to achieve the same results: researchers admit. But in the
45 minute lessons per week - was This is in line with similar the two 45-minute lessons that light of the available evidence, Dr
moved from year 3 to year 1 in policies across Europe that aim primary school pupils receive Jaekel said policy makers should
2008. to reach the ambitious 2+1 (two every week will not be adequate. consider several key points: ensure
The authors of the paper teachers are properly trained in
argue that the policy has been EFL teaching methodology and to
implemented without taking the C1 level in the language, increase
existing research about second contact hours, or even consider
language acquisition into proper moving back the start of foreign
consideration. language education to year 3 or
‘There should be more open maybe 5. Moreover, policy makers
dialogue’, Dr Nils Jaekel, one should make the transition from
of the authors of the research, primary to secondary school
told the Gazette. ‘The early start smoother through improved
approach has neglected the communication between EFL
evidence that was already there. teachers. ‘Everybody knows that,
There was a lack of coordination if we want to see Europe grow,
between policy makers and Mean pro ciency scores in year 5 and year 7. Courtesy: Nils languages need to be instilled from
language researchers.’ Jaekel, Michael Schurig, Merle Florian, Markus Ritter (Language a very early age’, he said. ‘But this
The sample was composed of Learning) needs to be done correctly’.
10 June 2017

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