The past decade has witnessed a record-breaking number of Chinese students studying abroad at low ages. According to China Daily, the number of Chinese middle school students learning in the US grew from 65 in 2005 to 6,725 in 2010, and Chinese undergraduate students increased by 43 percent at the undergraduate level from 2010 to 2011. While many parents believe that their children can benefit from overseas education, sending young kids abroad, particularly without parental accompany, has led to much public concern.
What do you think of this phenomenon? What would parents send their children abroad for education at low ages? What consequences may be caused? What suggestions would you give to parents and young children in terms of pursuing overseas education at low ages?
Along with the development of Chinese economy and society, the number of Chinese studying abroad has been soaring in the past years. Even young kids are sent abroad without accompany of their parents. To this practice, different people hold different views. Some parents consider it advantageous to send their children abroad at low ages, while others condemn it harshly. From my perspective, I believe that we should not go to extremes, because studying abroad has both advantages and disadvantages for young kids.
On the one hand, studying abroad is beneficial in many ways. Most importantly, the general level of education abroad is higher than that at home. Young kids can accept a comprehensive education which not merely lays its emphasis on grades. Secondly, studying abroad can broaden one's horizon, which can also add to his or her edge of competition.
On the other hand, studying abroad has some demerits. In the first place, students may find it difficult to adapt to the environment abroad, especially when they are weak in the foreign language, which may lead to the inferiority complex. Secondly, young children without accompany and guidance of their parents may feel lonely and be easily affected and misled by other people.
To prevent miserable things from happening, parents who want to send their children abroad should go along with their children and take a good care of them, giving them enough maternal and paternal love. For children pursing overseas education alone, they should learn to be independent and look after themselves. Also, they should always be themselves and know what is right and wrong.
Taking into consideration all the above-mentioned, it can be concluded that studying abroad at a low age is a two-edged sword, which brings about both merits and demerits. For the healthy growing of young kids, careful consideration should precede every decision parents made.
第一段中作者提出随着社会经济的发展，去国外读书孩子的数量猛增。不同的人对此持不同观点。作者认 为这样的做法既有利也有弊。第二段作者提出了此举的好处，孩子不仅可以接受比国内更全面的教育，全 方位发展，而且可以开阔眼界，提高自己的竞争力。第三段作者给出了此举的弊端，即由于孩子语言不 通，会导致无法适应新环境，甚至引起自卑情绪。其次，没有父母在身边陪伴，孩子会感到孤独，继而可 能被带上歧途。第四段作者给出了自己的意见，对于想要送孩子出国读书的家长来或，他们最好能一同前 去亲自陪伴。对于独自去国外读书的孩子来说，他们要学会独立，学会照顾自己，学会明辨是非。最后一 段作者对上文作了总结，为了孩子的健康成长，家长们在做任何决定之前都应该深思熟虑。