Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. Use specific reasons and examples to support your opinion.
I agree with the statement that children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. There are more advantages than disadvantages. For example, you can make friends from foreign countries if you learn foreign language. Or you can understand the movie without subtitle. In this essay, I have two points of view to support my opinion with objectivity. First one is from the fact that we live in a global society. Second one is the fact children are easier to learn languages than adults.
First, we are living in a global society and we are related with many different countries. Taking a foreign language class probably is a required subject in most of schools. Even in English spoken country, schools required students to learn foreign language. The society has been more globe than before. And the company need people who have global views. In fact, Japanese companies which want to do business with overseas start hiring people who can speak more than one languages. I can say the ability of languages effects getting jobs. Especially it’s competitive society, ability of speaking foreign languages definitely is an advantage.
Second, children can learn foreign language easier and faster than adults. There are several reasons. One is children have more time than adults. Second is children are not afraid of making mistakes. I think the best way of learning languages is speaking the language aloud. Children are not ashamed of themselves when they are making mistakes. They can speak anything they want or they think about. And they can learn form the mistakes. Third is children don’t care about grammar when they express their feelings. When adults learn foreign languages, they think about grammar so much. But I personally think grammar is not the most important part of learning languages. If someone can understand what you are talking about, it is good enough. Here is my experience. I was lived in Hong Kong for ten years. When I was ten years old, I moved to Japan. I could’t speak any Japanese. After two years, I could pass the private high school entrance exam. I could master most of the Japanese in two years. My parents was surprised at this. I can say children have a magical power to learn languages.
In conclusion, speaking foreign language in competitive global society is an advantage for getting jobs. It shows that how important to learn foreign languages. And children are much easier to learn languages than adults. So it tells us children should learning foreign languages as soon as they start schools.
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そして欲を言うと、イズミさんのエッセイは4パラグラフ構成であることから、就学時より後になって外国語を習得し始めるdisadvantageを論じるパラグラフをもう一つ足して、5パラグラフエッセイとしても良かったと思います。主に言語面の校正を担当しているPaul Strifler氏はこうコメントしています。“I know this essay is brief, but logically speaking, it would be good to write another paragraph about the ‘disadvantages’ of learning a language later in life. The reader expects to hear about the disadvantages of learning a language later in life because you mentioned this word in your introduction. If you don’t mention the word, ‘disadvantage’, then the reader won’t expect you to write about it in your paper. However, since you did, the reader is expecting the paper to be a comparison paper where you compare and contrast the advantages and disadvantages of learning English as a child.” たしかに第1パラグラフに“There are more advantages than disadvantages.”とあるので、欠点も合わせて論じられることを読者は期待するかもしれません。disadvantageに触れる時間がないと思ったらこの1文を削除するか、There are several reasons for this. といった文に差し替えると無難でしょう。
パラグラフの添削例
I agree with the statement that children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. There are more advantages than disadvantages. For example, you can make friends from foreign countries if you learn foreign language. Or you can understand the movie without subtitle. In this essay, I have two points of view to which support my opinion with objectivity. First[,] one is from the fact that we live in a global society. [and S[s]econd[,] one is the fact children are easier to [can] learn languages [more easily] than adults.
First, we are liv[e]ing in a global society and we are [in] related[ion] with many different countries. Taking a foreign language class [is] probably is a required subject in most of schools. Even in [countries where] English [is] spoken country, schools require[d] students to learn [a] foreign language. The s[S]ociety has been [become] more globe[al] than before. A[a]nd the company[ies] need people who have [a] global view[point]. In fact, Japanese companies which want to do business with overseas [are] start[ing to] hiring[e] people who can speak more than one languages. I can say the ability of languages[Having language ability] [has an] effects [on] getting jobs. Especially it’s [in a] competitive society, ability of [being able to] speaking foreign languages [is] definitely is an advantage.
Second, children can learn foreign language[s] [more] easier [easily] and faster than adults. There are several [three] reasons [for this]. One [reason] is children [generally] have more time than adults. [The] S[s]econd [reason] is children are not afraid of making mistakes. I think the best way of [to] learning languages is [to] speaking the language aloud. Children are not ashamed of themselves when they are making[e] mistakes. They can speak [say] anything they want or they think about. [anything they want to] A[a]nd they can learn form [from] the [their] mistakes. [The] T[t]hird [reason] is children don’t care about grammar when they express their feelings. When adults learn foreign languages, they think about grammar so [too] much. But I personally think grammar is not the most important part of learning languages. If someone can understand what you are talking about, it is good enough. Here is my experience. I was lived in Hong Kong for ten years. When I was ten years old, I moved to Japan. I could[n]’t speak any Japanese. After two years, I could pass the private high school entrance exam. I could master most of the Japanese [language] in two years. My parents was [were] surprised at this. I can say[,] children have a magical power to learn languages.
In conclusion, speaking [a] foreign language in [the] competitive global society [today,] is an advantage for getting jobs. [Students can learn a foreign language in their schools which will help them to take part in the global society.] It [Being able to get a job in this global society] shows that how important [it is] to learn foreign languages. And [It’s also] children are much easier [for children] to learn languages than adults [because they aren’t ashamed and don’t worry so much about grammar]. So it tells [For these two reasons,] us [it is a good idea for] children should [to] learning foreign languages as soon as they start schools.