Learning English as a foreign language during early childhood: A burden or a boost?

Around the world, there is a wave of educational policies mandating an early start on learning English as a foreign language (EFL) in order to better prepare children for the globalized world. What makes China different in this wave is that, while the government encourages an earlier start on EFL, it also prohibits English being taught before third grade in public elementary schools in order to “protect” children’s development of their native language.