A Critical Examination of the Beliefs about Learning a Foreign Language at Primary School

Early schemes have received much support from bodies such as the Centre for
Information on Language Teaching and Research (CILT) and the Council of
Europe through courses, conferences (CILT Conference Report, Southampton,
1994), publications such as the 'Young Pathfinder¹ series (CILT) and
workshops. In 1997 the Council of Europe stated that an early start to foreign
language learning was both desirable and feasible:

"The workshops, in one or other of which almost all member states were
represented, have come firmly and unanimously to the conclusion that the
lowering of the starting age is educationally both desirable and feasible."
(Trim, cited in Doye & Hurrell, 1997: 6)

In debates about the curriculum national needs can take precedence over
individual needs and political considerations and professional interests over
sound educational policy. During the run up to the General Elections in May
1997, the current Prime Minister, Tony Blair, called for the introduction of a
foreign language into primary schools on a national scale and the Labour
Party's policy document on Education 'Excellence for everyone: LabouHs
crusade to raise standards' stated that 'Labour will develop the teaching of
foreign languages in primary schools to boost children's linguistic skills' (Labour
Party, 1997, para 2.30). The dangers of 'politically* motivated curriculum
proposals put forward in order to 'attract votes or please the electorate' are
highlighted by Barrow who states that 'in the context of education one has a
plain duty to seek out good reasons for doing educationally worthwhile things':

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