At what age should you start learning English?

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Spain is at the tail end of Europe when it comes to English proficiency, and we are well aware of this. That is why more and more parents are concerned about their children's level of English and are demanding English classes at increasingly early ages.

Nowadays, English courses are offered even for babies as young as a greece phone number list months, but what is the optimal age to start learning English? Is it worth starting from the crib, or is it better to wait?


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Why learn English in childhood and why not
Advocates of starting to learn English at a very early age point out that there are many advantages, among which we can highlight:

Young children have the ability to assimilate the sounds of different languages ​​and learn them “as if they were their mother tongue.” After a certain age, this ability weakens and we become specialists in the sounds of our own language.
According to a study by the European Union presented in 2006, learning new languages ​​in childhood develops linguistic competence and the assimilation of all languages ​​(including the mother tongue).
Learning new languages ​​helps you come into contact with other cultures and ways of thinking, which contributes to overall development.
It is a valuable investment for the future, as we live in an increasingly globalized world and mastering English is essential in many professions.
And finally, learning English can become a family activity, where both parents and children improve their language level and have fun together.
On the other hand, detractors point out that trying to learn two languages ​​at once can lead to linguistic confusion and make it take longer for children to speak correctly than if they had focused on their mother tongue. It is also suggested that trying to get children to learn English at all costs can be a symptom of excessive parental expectations and end up leading to frustration and stress. Finally, it is worth bearing in mind that ongoing language classes are expensive, so some experts suggest that saving that money for immersion courses abroad (when the child is a little older) can be a more profitable investment.



In conclusion…
Learning languages ​​from an early age can be a good idea, but you must always keep in mind that mastering a new language requires a continuous investment. It is not enough to attend classes a few hours a week; you must be exposed to English on a continuous basis. Here, the role of parents is essential to propose games and activities in this language on a daily basis. Luckily, in the large cities of Spain we can already find many family leisure activities in English, which facilitates fun learning for young and old.

We must also not lose sight of the fact that for the little ones in the house, English should be a fun activity and not a stressful obligation. At any age, the best way to learn is to play and enjoy hobbies.