An Early Start: Young Learners and Modern Languages in Europe and Beyond

The idea for the comparative study dates from ECML workshop No.2/97 entitled 'Theme-based Foreign Language Teaching to Young Learners' hosted in Graz. Participants from 20 countries attended. In the publication 'An Early Start: Young Learners and Modern Languages in Europe and Beyond', 18 articles present different approaches to early language learning on a national basis. The chapters reflect a wide range of perspectives as authors included classroom teachers, teacher trainers and researchers. On-going research into young learners' programmes is not typical of all the countries represented. Therefore, this exchange of methodologies and theories provides a valuable source of information for decision-makers in language policies.