The-Younger-the-Better Ideology in Taiwan’s Private English Schools: A Critical Analysis of Early Language Learning

Abstract

The decreasing age at which Taiwanese children begin learning English suggests that Taiwanese society endorses the Critical Period Hypothesis (CPH) and believes that children should learn English as early as possible to ensure their academic or professional success. Consequently, many parents enroll their children in private English language schools to give them a head start. The purpose of this study is to investigate how television commercials for Taiwanese private English language schools promote the ideology that the-younger-the- better in English learning. This study also explores the underlying ideologies and social injustices associated with early English education. Using Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), the study analyzes 216 television commercials from private English language schools between 1980 and 2023. The results indicate that a prevailing perception in Taiwan is that English language learning must begin at a young age. The underlying ideologies of the-younger-the-better approach include English as a gateway to the world, English as a means for future success, English for self-improvement, American English as the standard, the ideal English teacher, the ideal English teaching method, and joyful English language learning. Moreover, this ideology has contributed to social injustices affecting Taiwanese children, native languages, and English teachers in contemporary Taiwanese society.