Homework
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use detail and examples to explain your answer. All children should be required to learn a second language in school.
There is a funny story about the importance of learning a second language.
A bird was left in an unlocked cage . Before a cat appeared at the door of the cage, the bird didn't realize it. Then it's too late for her to do anything. The frightened bird shivered upon the inside cage with her eyes closed. She thought she would be lunch of the cat. Then she thought of something. She opened her eyes and asked the cat " Have you not had your lunch? " The cat stopped reaching the bird surprisingly and ran away. The bird was grateful for her own hard work to learn a foreign language.
It's a joke. But I agree with the statement that all children should be required to learn a second language in school.
I have three reasons.
First it''s much easier for children to learn a second language. Children has much greater ability of imitation. So they can learn a second language quickly, especially spoken English. My friend once told me a story about her neighbor. The couple ran a business in Australia. Their five- year- old son stayed with them for two years .He didn't go to school.But he could communicate with his neighbours in English very well.After the boy returned to China for his primary school, His spoken english was even better than his English teacher. “He is a native English speaker” his English teacher said.
The second reason is to learn a second language can improve a person's thinking skill. At the beginning of learning a foreign language you have to compare two different languages. It's said to learn a second language can stimulate the right part of the brain. It can make your brain work more actively and quickly. So I think to learn a foreign language can make children much smarter.
The third reason is to learn a second language can open children's eyes. It will break up the limitation of region, culture and thoughts. In the TV Show" where is dad going?" Several children played with foreign children happily.They could communicate with them in simple English. I''m proud of these children. Nothing can limite them. So it's useful for children to learn a second language at school. They can communicate with the world in English much easily.
But children shouldn't take so many exams about the second language. The school and teachers should do best to motivate children's interest in the second language. It should be a pleasant process to learn more about different cultures, great thoughts in the world and make many friends from different countries. It's the task of the second language.
