The Time and Place for Learning a Foreign Language From: The Washington Post | Date: May 4, 2006 | Copyright 2006 The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post.  All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post.Copyright information

Dear Extra Credit:

Your April 20 column featured a letter wondering about the benefit of beginning foreign language study in the sixth grade instead of the normal seventh-grade program offered by the child's local school.

From what I have read and experienced, age 11 or 12 is actually somewhat late to begin the study of a foreign language if one's intent is to develop maximum comprehension and fluency with minimal accent. Brain development is apparently most favorable to gaining new language skills before age 10 or so. Teenagers and adults are usually able to learn foreign languages under the ...

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