For the current generation of children, English will no longer be an advantage but a necessity. Knowing foreign languages opens doors not only to job opportunities but also helps develop social skills, improve cognitive abilities, and foster cultural understanding. Parents often ask: When is the right time to start introducing their child to a foreign language?
How does language acquisition work in children?
From birth, children are equipped to acquire languages. In the first years of life, a child’s brain is exceptionally flexible and able to absorb new information like a sponge. This is the so‑called sensitive period, which lasts roughly from birth to about six years. This period is ideal for naturally acquiring various language structures without much effort.
At this early age, children acquire language spontaneously and intuitively. Language acquisition in young children proceeds differently than in older children or adults. A child does not look for rules, and you don’t need to explain grammar or vocabulary in a complicated way—the child simply “soaks up” the language from the surrounding environment and everyday situations.
In older children, spontaneous acquisition usually no longer occurs. From school age onward, learning a foreign language becomes more deliberate and requires a more methodical approach. Even so, older children can absorb a language relatively quickly; they simply need more systematic support and clear guidance.
At what age is it ideal to start learning foreign languages?
From a biological standpoint, early childhood is the ideal time to begin foreign‑language exposure. In the first years, a child learns language completely effortlessly and naturally.
In toddlerhood (0–3 years), learning is very simple and effective, and the child acquires the language automatically. However, this is not the right period to introduce formal instruction. It is mainly about familiarizing the child with the language through games, singing, and listening. The preschool years (3–6) are a time when the child begins to process language more consciously and has already developed the ability to learn through play or interaction with peers. This is also a suitable time for language clubs, preschools with bilingual programs, and language‑based games at home. School‑age children and adolescents also learn languages more easily than adults; the method is simply different—more systematic and targeted.
Benefits of early foreign language acquisition
Children who acquire another language very early have a significantly higher degree of linguistic flexibility, which makes it easier for them to learn additional languages in the future. They also naturally acquire proper pronunciation and speech intonation with ease.
What to watch out for?
Although acquiring a second language at an early age is mostly viewed positively and experts generally recommend starting language exposure early, it is also necessary to mention certain risks associated with this process.
One of the most commonly mentioned downsides is the risk of overloading the child. While a child’s brain is wonderfully flexible, it is also sensitive to an excess of stimuli. If you deliberately expose your child to an overly intensive instructional regimen, saturation, frustration, or overload can occur. This often leads to a loss of motivation and aversion to learning—not only languages, but other new skills as well. In early childhood, learning should not feel like an obligation, but rather like play and fun.
Another risk is language confusion and mixing. Children who grow up in a bilingual environment from birth may at first confuse words from both languages more often.
If we approach the process of language acquisition sensitively and without excessive pressure, we can help them learn a foreign language with ease. At the same time, we can kindle in our child joy and a lifelong love of languages. Choose an appropriate language environment, high‑quality foreign‑language toys, books, audio and video content, but above all create an atmosphere of playfulness, joy, and spontaneity.