Name: Haerunnisa Siddik

Class:. PBI C/2020

NIM. : 200502500023

Benefits of learning a second language in elementary school.

The second language is the language used after the child has mastered his first
language. This second language can also be called a foreign language that children have
never known. Mothers can teach second languages which children can master from an early
age, such as Javanese, Sundanese, and also good and correct Indonesian. Especially in the
current 4.0 era, it is even better if you teach children a foreign language, namely English
which will be useful for children in the future.
There are several definitions of a second language according to experts
Accourding to Chaer and Agustina; Second language acquisition is a gradual range
starting from mastering the first language (B1) plus a little knowledge of the second
language (B2), then mastering B2 gradually increases, until finally mastery of B2 is as good
as B1.
"The second language is the language that children acquire after they acquire the first
language." 2007,Kholid A. Harras
"The acquisition of a second language is defined by teaching and learning a foreign
language and/or other second language". 2006,Henry Guntur Tarigan

Then why should teach a second language to children?

Encouraging children to learn foreign languages can make them fluent in
communicating using a language other than their mother tongue. It can also provide
benefits for children's brain development.
Reporting from the Language Kids World page, many researchers have studied the brains of
bilingual children and the impact of bilingualism and multilingualism in promoting cognitive
development.
As a result, it was found that the brains of bilingual and multilingual children worked
differently than the brains of monolingual children. This difference provides an advantage
for children who speak more than one language.
Teaching children a foreign language can be with the mother playing videos, VCDs, or also
with picture books, television, and also with the mother herself teaching her child in a
foreign language. When using a tool for children to learn a foreign language, it is obligatory
for the mother to accompany them, so that the child does not make mistakes in the delivery
or when watching the video that is playing.It is very important in teaching a second
language to early childhood, because it is very beneficial for children in their academic
achievement. Likewise, children who master the language as well as in terms of expressive
or receptive, then they are able and will speak fluently well to the interlocutor.Not a few
parents feel that their children do not need to be taught a second language on the grounds
that their age is still very early. And not many parents have to teach their children a second
language at an early age because at an early age children will easily absorb what is being
taught.
Language develops in line with the times, and parents must pay attention to their
children's language learning. Children are able to absorb a second language well and faster
than adults, because a child's ability to pronounce a second language with the correct
accent occurs at the age of 2 or 3 years. Then children's second language will also develop
according to age, especially in around the age of 9 to 10 years where children are still
studying in elementary school. The earlier the child is introduced to a new language, the
easier it is for the child to accept it. The earlier a child learns a language, the better he or
she will be able to imitate new sounds and pronunciations. In childhood, the child's brain is
still wide open to be able to receive new sounds and languages. Therefore, learning a
second language is very necessary, especially for children who are still in elementary school,
because there are several reasons why we should learn a second language.
First, the benefits for mental. When children are able to use two languages
interchangeably well, this shows good cognitive flexibility. Children can better control their
reactions and focus on new or unexpected situations. This makes it able to cope with the
flow of information that affects logic and decision making. Furthermore, research has
shown that learning a second language later in life can stimulate the development of new
neural pathways, essentially keeping our brains "fresh". Babak Ghasemi and Masoud
Hashemi in their research on foreign language learning in childhood stated that the earlier a
child is introduced to a new language, the better the results.
Second, by learning a second language, children can experience social improvement.
When your child masters a second language, it means increasing the number of people you
can communicate with. Learning a second language basically, forces us to listen more
carefully and improves memory. This can help to improve our speaking skills in both
languages, and make us more sensitive, more empathetic because we have mastered the art
of focus.
Third, children will get academic benefits. Studies have shown that bilingual children
are better able to 'switch' their brains from one task to another, which can be important for
them in school.Many students, as they enter higher grades, often struggle with multiple
lessons throughout the day, which can lead to them getting lower grades. Analytical and
creative abilities also improve in those students who have learned a second language, and
regularly practice using the two interchangeably. Chomsky states that humans have
"Faculties of the Mind", which means humans have plots intellectual property in his brain,
one of which is language, and is called the Language Acquisition Device (LAD) (Shafa, 2012).
Based on this opinion, it can be interpreted that every child is equipped with language skills
in him as innate since the child was born. Therefore, learning or acquiring a second
language in early childhood development is not far from this interpretation. A person who is
bilingual will be better at tasks that require multi-tasking ability and focus of attention than
a person who is monolingual. Brain scans showed they had more gray matter in a region of
their brain involved in executive function.
 The next benefit is that it is easier for children to learn other languages. You may have
heard that a baby's ability to learn a language is like a 'sponge'. Research shows that there
is a 'critical period' for language acquisition, which is the time when the brain is in prime
condition for learning.
Research conducted by Dr. Patricia Kuhl at the University of Washington's Institute
for Learning and Brain Sciences shows that babies aged 8-12 months are beginning to be
able to focus on sounds that come from within their mother tongue. However, when babies
are exposed to a second language, they can distinguish these foreign sounds.Until the age of
7 or 8, children can learn to speak a second language with fluent grammar and without an
accent. After this critical period, the ability to master a foreign language will gradually
decline.So, if you want your child to master a foreign language, start at an early age. Once a
child learns one foreign language, it is easier for him to learn another foreign language.
And the last benefit is future job opportunities. Children who master foreign
languages are currently one of the competencies that must be possessed by prospective
employees. Those with foreign language skills are a plus for job recruiters. So that the child
has the opportunity to work in the future because a company needs someone who is able to
speak a foreign language to facilitate communication.

In fact, when children learn a second language, it has an impact on children's thinking
patterns, and makes them more rational in thinking and making decisions. And children will
be more honed and accustomed to making good decisions for themselves and others.

Reference :

B1. 2012. Is it necessary to teach a second language to children? (Accessed 23 March 202)

Raudhatul Safira. 2018. Benefits of Children Learning Foreign Languages Early.

https://www.haibunda.com/parenting/20181126134134-61-28739/benefits-anak-learning-
language-asing-sejak-dini (Accessed March 23, 2021) Dewi, K. (2017). The Importance of
Learning Media. Journal of Early Childhood Education

Language Kid World. Accessed in 2020. 10 reasons why your child should learn a second or
foreign language.