Editor

David Davies asks (Views, 9 June) your readers: “Is it in the children’s best interests in Welsh only learning up to the age of seven?”

We should remember that much research, and personal observations (including my own), on this subject have shown that children up to the age of eight do not learn a language – they absorb it as a dry sponge absorbs water! It follows from this that, provided young children have exposure to a language, they will quickly become fluent in it. And, of course, the more languages they are exposed to in these early years, the more multilingual they will become. In most areas of Wales, children will be exposed to English – if not in the home, then outside it. I cannot see that a Welsh-only education will prevent the pupils from being bilingual. Indeed, I don’t believe it could! I also assume that English will be taught as a second language in such schools.

There may be a problem if the Welsh-only education includes homework, and non-Welsh speaking parents are unable to offer help, but primary schools should be able to provide solutions for this.

Mr Davies mentions the need for a good standard of English in those who work overseas, and I agree with him. However, we know that the attempt to drill primary school pupils in the complexities of English grammar is almost certain to fail – far better to tackle this task at a slightly older age.

I would also add the “anti English rhetoric” that Mr Davies refers to is not necessarily directed at the English language; it is far more likely to be directed at the adverse effects (real or imagined) of the UK’s government on the devolved nations.

John Davis

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