EducationDiscuss Both ViewsIntermediateHigh Frequency

IELTS Essay: Early Language Learning

Prompt

Some believe that students should begin learning a language very early in school while others think these subjects should be taught later. Discuss both sides and give your own opinion.

#language acquisition#critical period hypothesis#early childhood education#cognitive development#educational curriculum#multilingualism

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Band 7 → 9 — Band 7 argues for early exposure due to phonetic learning advantages vs. later learning due to maturity and study skills; Band 9 notes that research shows early informal exposure provides lasting benefit but formal instruction can be equally effective later, and argues the real question is curricular priority and instructional quality—earlier isn't universally better without examining opportunity costs and learning conditions.

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Key concepts in this essay

critical period hypothesis
opportunity cost of curriculum time
acquisition vs. learning
retention and forgetting
resource allocation

Pitfalls the model essay avoids

Assuming earlier learning is always better without examining diminishing returns or resource opportunity costs (early language time might displace early literacy in native language)
Ignoring that effectiveness depends on instructional quality and ongoing practice (poor instruction early is worse than good instruction later)
Failing to distinguish between intuitive acquisition (immersion in childhood) vs. formal instruction (which works differently for older learners)

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