A Study Of Foreign Language Learning For Young Children

21^st century is the age when competition is becoming more fierce, people's pace is getting faster, and pressure from work, life and study is getting stronger. Parents think that their children need master a foreign language so that they can take the advantage in employment and realize their ideals, so it is specially important for them to invest a lot for their children in learning a foreign language. At present, most families are one-child families, thus parents have great expectations of their children, and all expect that their children will become competent and competitive some day. Therefore, it seems more important for Chinese children to learn a foreign language, especially to learn English. Children who are at the stage of elementary education start learning English. English lessons are given in kindergartens, and the so-called Bilingual Kindergartens have been springing up to meet parents'demand in many cities. The author intends to study this trend of English learning among young children, hoping to make foreign language education under Chinese situation more effective, the parents'investment more beneficial, and the policies of foreign language education more scientific.In the essay, through interpreting the definition of foreign language learning, it is pointed out that Chinese students'English learning is absolutely different from second language learning. It is unacceptable to apply the theory of second language acquisition directly to English teaching and learning in China. In addition, the essay also introduces the effects of age on foreign language learning. Age is only one of the factors, which is not very related to the language proficiency as people have expected. People at different ages have their own learning methods, they need to make use of the advantages and avoid the unfavorable elements. Therefore, the function of age should not be emphasized excessively.This paper reviews the development of children's foreign language education in China. Through investigating bilingual kindergartens and analyzing the syllabus and the relevant curriculum at primary schools, some facts have been obtained for studying the social phenomenon– learning English at a young age.In this essay, from literature review and analysis of the surveys, it is known that there are two theories about age and foreign language learning: critical period theory and non-critical period theory. 90% of the subjects in the research were immigrants. In fact, immigrant learners are different from foreign language learners. So critical period theory cannot be applied to conducting foreign language teaching and learning. Moreover, according to Piaget's theory, the role of mother tongue in foreign language learning is taken for granted from the perspective of cognitive psychology. In China, children generally go to school at six, they are right in an unfavorable situation. During this period, if children study another language, they will probably be frustrated and confused when expressing their thoughts.The present study reveals that there are some misunderstandings of foreign language education in China, which results in the problematic practice of English teaching to young children. We find out that learning a foreign language at a young age may affect children's native language and thinking development. Therefore, parents and schools at first need to put focus on children's native language education which will benefit their foreign language learning in the future. In conclusion, for the starting age of learning English, it is not"the younger, the better."...