[jcj]

Great...some people are getting the point. The best way for a young child to learn a second language is to play with a native speaker of that language. No doubt...but how real is that?
I said the key is non-native speakers because they are the ones teaching the youngest kids... for the most part. Most parents don't have the money or the opportunity to get their kids into classes taught by natives and by the time kids get into such a class it is a formal situation, part of a long day, in a big group, and often with team teachers not doing things exactly right.

The key is taking advantage of what is given...not arguing about what should be. AND non-natives are great teachers for a number of reasons..many of which have been pointed out.

the advantage of natives pronunciation which will not be learned from natural conversation anyway. It has to be explicitly taught. How many natives are aware of the work of Patricia Kuhl?

ps for those interested...it is Jennifer Jenkins...no Jessica