In the modern world, knowledge of English opens many doors: from watching favourite cartoons and playing games to future opportunities in education and career. Many parents wonder: why do children master foreign languages so easily, while adults find it much harder? Science provides clear answers to this question. Research shows that early language learning, including English, is not only easier but also beneficial for brain development. Let’s explore the scientific facts.

1. Brain Plasticity in Children

A child’s brain possesses remarkable flexibility — this is known as neuroplasticity. In toddlers and young children, neural connections form much faster than in adults. Infants and children up to adolescence easily create new brain connections, which helps them “absorb” language like a sponge.

Scientific studies confirm this: children form neural connections at an enormous rate, making the acquisition of a new language a natural process. For example, research from the University of Pennsylvania and other centres shows that a child’s brain at an early age is particularly receptive to language patterns. Adults, on the other hand, more often rely on conscious memorisation, which slows down the process.

2. Critical Period for Language Acquisition

There is a concept of a critical (or sensitive) period in language development. According to the hypothesis proposed in the 1960s by Eric Lenneberg and supported by modern research (for example, from MIT), the best age for mastering a language to native-speaker level is up to 10–12 years, and for perfect pronunciation even earlier — up to 7–10 years.

Studies published in the journal Cognition and others demonstrate that children up to adolescence extract hidden language rules from everyday communication much more quickly. They learn unconsciously, simply by listening and repeating, whereas adults often translate from their native language and make more mistakes. Children are better at generalising rules and applying them to new words.

3. Unconscious Learning and Lack of Fear of Mistakes

Children learn language not through rote learning, but through play and interaction — this is unconscious learning. They are not afraid of making mistakes, unlike adults, who often feel embarrassed about incorrect pronunciation or grammar.

Research (from the University of Brussels) shows that children outperform adults in passively acquiring language rules through simple listening. They repeat new words in games, which helps fix them in memory. Adults, however, are better at conscious learning, but this leads to interference from their native language.

4. Additional Benefits of Early Learning

Early exposure to English not only makes acquisition easier but also develops the brain overall:

• Improves cognitive abilities: attention, memory, problem-solving.
• Boosts academic performance in other school subjects.
• Makes the child more open to other cultures.

Numerous studies confirm that children who learn a second language early achieve greater success in the future.

Learning English at CIS

At CIS, we place great emphasis on developing English language skills in children. Regardless of their level, our ESL classes take into account each child’s abilities, and teachers prepare them so that the main curriculum, taught in English by native speakers, is absorbed without difficulty. In all classes, we also have learning assistants who speak Russian, ensuring that young children’s adaptation to an English-speaking environment is gentle and stress-free.

Here are some materials from our ESL teachers, where they share secrets of successful language teaching and various methods for working with children for whom English is a second language.

Miss Anahit, English language teacher
Piñata for fun English
Idioms are our best friends

Miss Asmik, English language teacher
Learning through theatre

Miss Larisa, learning assistant in primary school
The role of the assistant in the classroom

Conclusion

The scientific facts are unequivocal: early childhood is the ideal time to learn English. A child’s brain is more ready for it than ever, and the process happens naturally and with enjoyment. You can start as early as 3–5 years old through games, songs, and cartoons. This will not only give your child a valuable skill but also help develop their potential. If you want to give your child an advantage in the future — start now!