--- In [email protected], "L B Shriver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > --- In [email protected], bbrigante <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > snip > > . Numerous studies have persuaded linguistic > > researchers that acquisition of a second language after the age of > > 15 means that one is unlikely to acquire mastery (especially in > > terms of pronunciation -- the brain has less flexibility after the > > age of 15), although there are certainly individual variations: > > > > http://tinyurl.com/a322s > > "learning before the age of 7 yields perfect command > > ********* >
> I have found it interesting that at MSAE Maharishi doesn't allow 2nd language acquisition > at the younger age (he may make an exception for Sanskrit) because he claims that for the > youngster to speak something other than the "mother tongue" creates some subtle kind of > confusion—even though, as you note, it is the ideal time for language acquistion. > > Does anyone have more precise information on this? > > L B S > ******************** I think the objection MMY (and many language professionals) makes is that _forcing_ a child to abandon his mother tongue and _only_ speak a new language creates a problem for the child. But learning a second language without having to abandon one's mother tongue is an effortless process for a young child because of the brain's superior flexibility (which is related to changes in the structure of the brain in teenagers, the completion of myelinization and so on) : http://www.parentinginformation.org/braindevelopment.htm "Speaking two languages at home. Hearing two languages spoken at home is a real advantage to the child. If a child hears two languages from birth, he will maintain the ability to hear the sounds of both and be able to speak each language with the accent of a native speaker. If parents each speak a different language, it is helpful if the child hears the same language consistently from the parent who is its native speaker. If, for example, the mother is a native English speaker and the father a native Spanish speaker, it will be less confusing for the child to hear each parent speak in his or her native language. The child may mix the languages in his own speech initially, but will typically sort it out by around 2 ½ years of age. Then he will separate the words belonging to each language and know which language to use with which parent. By 7 years of age, the child is likely to be able to cope with the two language systems without a problem, using both vocabulary and grammar appropriate for his age. If a child enters a preschool and is first exposed to a second language after the age of 3, she will still be able to acquire the second language easily because she knows the rules of communication. In 3 to 7 months the child will begin to understand the second language. After about 2 years she will be able to carry on a fluent conversation. Young children learn a second language more easily than adults because the window of opportunity for learning language is still open for them. Helping the child build her self confidence during the time she is learning a second language is very important. Music is a great way to help the child learn words and phrases in the new language. Talking slowly, clearly, and simply is also helpful. It is also important for parents to continue speaking to the child at home in her native language because it continues to lay the foundation for the second language by providing the basic rules of communication. Also, the parent-child interaction might suffer if the parents speak less to the child in an attempt to use the second language." ** As a practical matter, MSAE has to teach in English, and anyway, the kids all learn some Sanskrit anyway, which is nobody's mother tongue at this stage in the Kaliyuga, so it can't be said that MSAE is trying to put off second-language acquisition. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Ever feel sad or cry for no reason at all? Depression. Narrated by Kate Hudson. http://us.click.yahoo.com/CQDrNC/ubOLAA/d1hLAA/0NYolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To subscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Or go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ and click 'Join This Group!' Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FairfieldLife/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
