The perfect age to learn a second language

The perfect age to learna second language

Kazuki TakahashiMika SugimotoShigeka Mikawa

Tomoko TakahashiYuki Tosaka

How old were you when you first had your contact with English?

How? Why?

Do you think it was actually effective to start from then?

ADULTS

Is over 12 years old English education…..

Effective?

What you heard before 12 years old is very important

This is the reason for child English class or living abroad is effective for English speaking.

Pronunciation

People who started English from… Elementary

After 12 years old

What should they do?

Study Grammar

ELEVEN to SIX

Critical Period• affects the educational policy-making

of foreign language teaching• ends before the age of 11 or 12

It is better to learn Englishin this period!

Experimental Studies• children's acquisition of a foreign

language is different from that of adults‘• acquisition of pronunciation and

grammar is also different because it involves a problem of physiologic aging process

Advantageless risky than the younger ages

Disadvantageless efficient than the younger ages

Ages 6-11 EFFECTIVE

Ages of over 12 not effective

FIVE to THREE

3years old:Approximate 900 words

4years old:1200 to 1500 words

5years old:1500 to 2000 words

Mother Tongue

　 PROGRAM/AGE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6

RIGHT

FLASH CARDS High-speed input

PICTURE BOOKS 4 pages

DANCE & SONGS 4 songs in a month

LEFT

Q&A Q&A 30-60things Self introduction

PICTURE BOOKS　

Read aloud recitation and writing

WORDSSENTENCES

Phonics(1-3words)

Make simple Sentences

MakeSentences

Jean Piaget(1896-1980)

Sensorimotor stage:Birth to 2years

Elizabeth S. Spelke(1949-)

Three-month-old babycan recognizea possible event andan impossible event.

THREE to ZERO

When do you want your kidsto start learning English?

46%38%

16% ■ 0-3 years old

■ 4-6 years old

■ Anytime

The age of learning Englishas a second language

13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 (y/o)4-6y/o 0-3 y/o

Maria Montessori(August 31, 1870 – May 6, 1952)

• Physician• Educator

• Humanitarian

Sensitive Period:Appropriate periods of

childhood development

Sensitive Periodfor learning language: About 7month to around 3years old

Critical period hypothesis:

1) A specific and limited time periodfor language acquisition

2) Limited time that kidscan listen properly (ex: R,l C,K

ReadingSpeaking Writing

Listening0year old:

Listen to music at home2-3 year old:

Old enough to go toEnglish class for fun

Good points• No hesitation• Immature• global mind

Unborn Baby

Scientific proof• Baby’s ears are formed by 5-6 months• Babies recognize their mother’s voice

Babies are listening to the sounds of outside

Case examplesCase 1:

Japanese woman who raised genius kids

Case 2:

A girl who was autism

Case 3:

A girl who spoke English

Unborn baby

Very effective

At what agedid you want to start

studying English?

Conclusion