Teaching Languages to Young Learners: Asian Rim Experiences

Abstract

A number of Asian countries have recently developed initiatives relating to the teaching of English to young learners in schools. Many of the issues that these countries are currently facing are very similar to the theoretical and practical issues that are being faced in New Zealand where an increasing number of schools are introducing students to international languages at a younger age, and where young learners are being introduced to Māori in a range of different educational settings. Some of the issues, both theoretical and practical, that are common to young learner language initiatives in both New Zealand and in a number of Asian countries are explored here.