Early Learning English: Yes or No?

Chory Trisa Yuanilasari/130222614304

Children are human beings which can easily and fast understand something new around their surroundings. They can learn something from everywhere and anytime they are. No matter from whom the knowledge is obtained. Language is one of the fields of study which is easily learned by children. For instance, English as one of the world languages has been learned by people all over the world, not exceptional, Indonesia. Indonesia as developed country has been attached English as the third language after mother tongue and bahasa Indonesia. Mostly the citizens in Indonesia have made their children to study English in an early age. They believe that learning English is important; and learning English may become the best way to educate their children. However, some parents believe that learning English in an early age is not important for their children. Therefore, it is no use for them to make their children learn English in such early age. Here, the opinion of both sides of the urgency in early learning English.

Learning the second or even the third language has become the main concern for Indonesia parents, especially, English. English is generally known as the international language and it brings big impact to many terms of daily life. Mostly people in the world use English to communicate internationally. This condition makes Indonesia parents educate English to their children in early age. Children are known as ‘curious’ creature. They are eager to learn and explore about anything and anytime they are; and learning English may become the object of their exploration. Children are always mimicking whatever around them and are surprisingly good on it (Dincay, 2011). With this natural skill, children will easily learn English in an instant pace. This moment is benefited by Indonesia parents to educate them about English so that they will be easy to teach them. Next reason of why parents think that learning early Learning English is important; by learning English, it will prepare children to face the future. People who advanced in English will easily get job opportunity. English eases them to communicate with people from many different part of the world. It eases them to understand the differences and the cultures in different area. Thus, fluent in English may help them to become open-minded toward every problem that they may face later in the future. This condition leads them to advance in problem solving. Since Indonesia has become the international tourism destination, many tourist all of the world will visit Indonesia; and this people are mostly fluent in English. Therefore, learning English may help them to communicate with the tourist and it helps Indonesia to promote and tell to the world that Indonesia is an amazing tourist destination with amazing citizens too.

On the other hand, some Indonesia people believe that early learning English is not important. First, they believe that learning and understanding deeper their language or their mother tongue is way more important than other languages. It will be shame if they cannot understand and fluent in their mother tongue. Indeed, it is hurt their national pride. Take a look for a real example, my cousin as a Javanese is unable to speak Javanese. She will respond by using Bahasa Indonesia rather than by using Javanese. One shame example is when she bought in the groceries store, she spent twenty five thousand rupiahs, and the seller said by using Javanese, “selawe ewu, mbak”. She did not understand and asked the seller how much it is. Then, with a surprise look, the seller said again by using Bahasa Indonesia and she understood it. At that time, I heard some buyers whispered that how come a literally Javanese people did not know the words “selawe ewu” was. Other evidence proves that some Javanese people do not know how to speak karma inggil.  Four out of five of my fellows are unable answer by using karma inggil soon after they are asked by using krama to elder people. Javanese language requires us to speak as the stages of language in Javanese. There are 3 stages of Javanese language; ngoko, karma madya, and karma alus (Purwadi, 2005). We speak with elder people by using karma inggil to express our respect towards them. However, my fellows tend to use bahasa Indonesia rather than using karma inggil to answer the questions. Second, learning English in an early age is not considerably earthshaking because recently, many foreigners are learning bahasa Indonesia. They found that learning bahasa Indonesia is interesting as bahasa Indonesia becomes the 3^rd most difficult language to learn in the world. Thus, they are willing to study and learn it deeply so that they can be advanced in it.

Learning English in an early age becomes controversy for Indonesia people. Some of them believe that learning English in an early age is important as it brings many advantages in the future such as it helps to communicate with different people from other countries and different cultures. Learning English also helps to them to take job opportunity since many job providers requires the applicants to be fluent in English. At the same time, some others strongly believe that early learning English is not crucial. They should be advanced in their mother tongue first before learning other language; because it will be same if as the people of it, are unable to understand and apply our origin language in daily life. It is kind of betraying our sovereignty. In brief, I as Indonesia citizen as well as the student of English department strongly recommend for learning and understanding both our mother tongue and English as foreign language equally; since both those languages are equally important for our daily life in present and in the future.

References :

·         An online article entitle “Why Start with English at an Early age?” written by Steve Watts

www.wattsenglish.com/wattsenglish-method/why-start-english-early

·         An online article posted in 2003 entitle “Why Your Children Should Stat Now” written by anonymous, UK

www.musiclingua.com/early-language-benefits.html

·         An online article posted in December 5^th, 2011 entitle “Is Learning a Foreign Language Goods for Kids at a Young Age?”, written by anonymous, UK

www.kumon.co.uk/blog/is-learning-a-foreign-language-good-for-kids-at-a-young-age

·         An online article posted in November, 25^th 2011 entitle “Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language at an Early Age”, written by assistant professor TurgayDincay, an instructor at Istanbul Arel University, Istanbul, Turkey.

www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_advantages-of-learning-a-foreign-language-at-an-early-age_263877.html

·         Purwadi, 2005. Belajar Bahasa Jawa Krama Inggil. Hanan Pustaka, Yogyakarta.