What is the optimal age to start learning an additional
language? Current educational policy (in Europe at least)
suggests that the younger, the better. However, as I wrote in An
A-Z of ELT, “the results and benefits of this [policy] are still
inconclusive.” Now evidence is emerging that casts some doubt on
the wisdom of introducing a second language at primary level, if
this means only an hour or so a week. And an hour or so a week
seems to be the norm. A recent Europe-wide study shows that the
time devoted to language teaching in primary schools remains
limited, in general less than 10% of total class time, and
varies considerably between countries. The report is called Key
Data on teaching languages at school in Europe 2009, by the
Eurydice Information Network on Education in Europe. You can
download the full 136 page report from this website: The report
is worth looking at – there are some great graphs, showing
startling variability across Europe – e.g. some secondary school
systems (e.g. Bulgaria, Denmar