WHEN CHILDREN LEARNING ENGLISH?

It was thought, the younger the age the children learn the language easier than adults. There is also the opinion, learning a foreign language early on is not a guarantee. While others say, the success of foreign language learning is determined by the motive or the need to communicate in their environment. Which is correct? E. Kosasih, a student at the Language Teaching Graduate Program IKIP Bandung, and journalist A. Summary Hery Suyono menuturkannya below.

Lately various foreign language courses, especially English, more lively. Not only for adults but also children. Schooling institutions do not want to miss any time. English language teaching which was originally known only at the SMTP level, is now given to elementary school students, school pupils and even kindergarten.

Such phenomena include obsession spurred by parents who want their children to foreign language quickly. They looked at each other, the earlier children learn a foreign language, the more easily he mastered the language.

Then, what language expert opinion?

Golden period of language learning

Some language experts support the view "the earlier the children learn a foreign language, the easier the child's familiarity with the language". For example, McLaughlin and Genesee claimed that children acquire language more quickly without much trouble compared with adults.

Similarly, Eric H. Lennenberg, neurology expert, argues that before puberty, the intellect (brain) child is more flexible. Hence, it was easier to learn the language. Meanwhile, after going to the less and accomplishments were not optimal.

Dr. Bambang Kaswanti Purwo, chairman of Applied Linguistics Study Programs in English, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jakarta, in writing pangajaran English in elementary and SMTP, mention that the age of 6 - 12 years, is the most ideal of gold or to learn languages other than the mother ( first language). The reason, the child's brain is still plastic and flexible, so that the process smoother absorption of the language.

Besides the absorption power of language to the child's functioning automatically. Enough with the exposure itself (self-exposure) in a particular language, for example, he lived in an environment other than speaking his native language, children will easily be able to master the language. Golden period was not owned by an adult.

However, that does not mean adults are not able to master a second language (foreign language). Lenneberg argued, adults with average intelligence were able to learn a second language after the age of 20 years. There are even capable of learning a foreign language to communicate at the age of 40 years.

That fact is not contrary to the hypothesis about the age limit for the mastery of the language because the language setting on the brain is formed in childhood. It's just going through puberty "learning barriers of language" (language learning blocks). "So, you know when learning the language after puberty, it is more trouble than when the age of fifteen or five years," said Bambang.

In first language acquisition, the technical term "critical period" (critical period). In second language acquisition (foreign language) is the term "sensitive period" (sensitive period). Based on research Patkowski, the delicate mastery of foreign language syntax is the period until the age of 15 years. Children are faced with a foreign language before the age of 15 years to master a foreign language syntax as native speakers. In contrast, in adults is almost impossible to foreign accents can be controlled.

More details presented by other researchers. Fathman research on 200 children aged 6 - 15 years of learning English as a second language in schools in the U.S., showed that younger children (aged 6 - 10 years) is more successful on the acquisition of phonology (sound system) in English. While the older children (11 - 15 years) are more successful on the acquisition of morphology (the smallest unit of language forms) and syntax (word order and sentence).

Still on the mastery of certain aspects of foreign language in relation to the age factor, Scovel said, the ability to master a foreign language accents ended around the age of 10 years. While mastery of vocabulary and syntax, according to his notes, did not know the age limit.

Pros and cons of critical period

Ideal period departed children learn the language of the so-called critical period for language acquisition. Critical period is still a hypothesis that the way human life is scheduled to determine the biological activity periods of a person (Brown, 1994).

Critical period often associated with the process of cleavage between the left brain with right brain. Neurological research results mentioned, at the age of nearly mature, humanitarian functions are divided into two parts. Intellectual functions, logic, analysis, and language skills are on the left side of the brain. While the functions related to emotion and other functions that are socially controlled by the right hemisphere. Upon entering the brain's division process, according to the anatomy of language experts, language sensitive period lasted.

After the "penyebelahan" (lateralization) of the brain is complete, according to Lenneberg hypothesis, language development tends to be "frozen". Basic skills can not be achieved at that time (except for articulation) generally will remain imperfect.

When exactly did the process of division of the brain, there is still disagreement among experts. The views across, among others proposed by Sorenson and Jane Hill.

According to the study of ethnic Tukaro Sorenson in South America, before adulthood Tukaro society have mastered at least two or three of the 24 languages they normally use. Even more surprising, the number of language mastery is even more and more and more perfect as they near old age.

Other evidence. Based on research done with Western society, Jane Hill concluded that in the normal development one can learn a foreign language perfectly, regardless of whether he was young or old.

Division process of the brain, according to Eric Lenneberg, occurred since the child was two years and ended before puberty. While Norwan Geshwind argues, cleavage of the brain (the critical period) was over long before puberty. More extreme opinions Stephen Krashen, the division process is ended when the child was five years old.

Thus, it is clear that the critical period hypothesis can not be used as criteria for success teaching a second language or foreign language. The success of someone learning a foreign language, according to Gardner and Lambert, does not depend on intellectual ability or innate language skills, but is determined by the motive or the need to communicate in their environment.

No guarantee

Since in elementary school and even kindergarten, children are "demanded" over more than one language; local language and Indonesia. Both are used as the medium of instruction in the teaching-learning process.

How their weight, if then still coupled to learn English. Four language they must master in one period, for example.

The fact that instead of adding the child quickly mastered foreign languages. In addition to causing psychological burden, not closed the possibility of the rate of development of national and regional languages even children were stunted, or even damage the systems first language he mastered.

Things like that are not much different from children who are learning to team handball. Before he was adept at playing team handball, and then overwritten again with the game of basketball and football. The coach should not be surprised if the child then put the ball in his hands when he played football, or heading and kicking the ball when the kids play basketball.

Jeperson far earlier warned that children who learn two languages will not be able to master both languages equally well. Also will not learn one language well. Work your brain to master the two languages would be hinder a child to learn other things to her master. Disturbed children's language development, both in the use of vocabulary, grammar structure, word form, and several other languages irregularities.

Inevitably, in a global era of mastery of English is obligatory. Who wants to broad social, business success, and master science inevitably have to master the language of this one. However, in our growing demands being wise and not in a hurry.

In addition to considering the ability of children, parents should also consider the interests of the child will control the national and regional languages. Both languages can not be removed simply from the daily functions and social responsibilities of children. Therefore, it would be better if the English or other foreign languages are given after the local language and national language terkuasai steadily. Foreign language teaching in early childhood did not guarantee absolute success in child language.