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The Importance Of Foreign Language Education At The Elementary Level, Dennys Canto

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This literature review looks at the benefits of teaching foreign language at the elementary level versus at the secondary level. The review examines the linguistic and cognitive benefits of learning a foreign language at different levels. Young children are slower at learning languages than adolescent learners, in all aspects of language. However, young children gain many cognitive advantages from learning a foreign language and are more likely to become indistinguishable from native speakers. Foreign languages should be taught at the elementary level because it helps with literacy in English, it enhances problem solving, attentional control and the ability to switch …