VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese parents are receiving conflicting advice about when they should enroll their children in English classes.

The debate about when children should begin learning English has once again been raised after a teacher of English stated that they should not begin lessons too soon.

Thai Ba Tan, a renowned translator, writer, poet and teacher of English, has advised parents not to enroll children in English classes. 

“This causes a big waste of money and time of parents and children. Meanwhile, the result is zero,” he wrote.

“Wait until your children enter the 10th grade. Ask them to learn seriously until they finish high school. Three years is enough,” he recommended.

Tan gave advice on his Facebook after meeting a parent from the countryside who came to Hanoi to work for money to fund two children’s English classes. The children are 9 years old and 5 years old.

The debate about when children should begin learning English has once again been raised after a teacher of English stated that they should not begin lessons too soon.

Tan’s entry on his Facebook caught the special attention of parents, especially urbanites, because he is a renowned teacher of English and his advice is contrary to scientists’ viewpoint on the issue. Scientists believe that infancy to six is the golden time for children to learn languages.

Tan’s personal opinion has recevied 1,500 likes, nearly 1,000 shares and many comments.

Duy Han Trinh wrote: “I totally agree with you. Vietnamese children need to learn Vietnamese well and express their thoughts in Vietnamese first. English, or any other foreign language, should be seen as a language tool which can be learned in several years.”

Diep Nguyen, a parent who is seriously thinking about whether to bring her child to English classes, said that she felt sorry for the children, who still cannot speak their mother tongue fluently, but have to learn to speak English as well. 

Nguyen Quang Dung, a parent in Hai Ba Trung district in Hanoi, said he regretted the decision to bring his son to English classes two years ago at the age of four.

“I could not see the clear effects the English lessons could bring, but I could see clearly that he became tired and unhappy,” Dung said. 

Meanwhile, many parents insist on the view that children need to start learning English soon.

Tran Thanh Tung, a parent in Hanoi, said his first child had not learned English until he entered the 10th grade. 

When his friends practiced for IELTS exam and looked for scholarships to study abroad, he was still struggling with English grammar and vocabulary.

Tung decided to bring his second child to English classes at the age of six.

Tri Thuc Tre