Language is not just a tool that aids or supports in communicating but it is more then that. It is termed that language as a medium of communication which can also be termed as a representational medium. Language aids individuals in giving meaning to the world around us and communicate those meanings in the form of a regularized code that is said to not only embody identity in terms of culture and ethnicity but also ensure that there is a certain sense of camaraderie developed via connecting individuals through shared language traits (Chomsky, 2000, pp. 8).
Discussion
As the population of individuals who are learning English as a second language is increasing, it becomes mandatory for teachers to find a starting point based on which they can understand the needs of the English learners. These two key issues that can aid in being the starting point for the teachers are:
Perception that younger is better
Choice of approach
Perception that Younger is Better
There has been an increasing demand of the need to learn English language which is mainly because of massive globalization that has taken place in the recent years. There is also a trend to study abroad and get the best degrees possible with the best grades. The premise behind this thought is the fact that countries prioritize the degrees attained from flourishing countries like USA and UK. In order to do that parents feel that there is an urgent need of learning the language and inducing it as a norm to ensure that the child is not only flourishing in education but also in his career. It is because of this new trend that parents are ensuring that children learn from a very early age since they believe that earlier the learning age the effective it becomes when it comes to transfer of learning (Krashen, Long & Scarcella, 1979, pp.574). The perception is very much apparent everywhere and Greek-Cypriots are no exception. The process of developing an understanding of the new language is said to initiate from a very early age. It starts from the time when the child is able to have a two-way communication. It could also extend depending on the degree of importance that the guardians lay on learning English as a foreign language. The emphasis is more on attaining the bilingual skill at younger age considering the fact that in early age children do not have a defined inclination towards any genre especially. Initiating the process of learning from a young age ensures that the child develops a strong inclination and starts comprehending it. Further more, there have been different schools of thoughts debating over the fact whether adult learning age is the best age to learn a second language or young age. Adults indeed are able to learn ...