BEIJING, Mar. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Lin Shuwen, aged 4, has a party trick to entertain visitors. She can read her way through 400 English vocabulary cards and spell 100 with minimal help from her mother, Di Liduan.

"Her father and I started teaching our daughter the alphabet when she was 2," Di said. "Her English is not the best in her class yet. A little boy, a couple of months younger than her, now reads over 600 English words."

To make sure her daughter gains a perfect American accent, Di pays 260 yuan ($41.2) an hour to a native speaker from New York to teach her daughter twice a week. She also sends Lin to Wunan Kindergarten in Shanghai's downtown Changning district, reputed for its English teaching methods.

"Learning English is my daughter's top priority," she added. "Learning Chinese is important too, but it doesn't take as much hard work, because it is her mother tongue. Her Chinese ability will come naturally."

Many parents across the country share this same focus for their young children, which concerns Ling Zi, deputy chairman of the Chinese Confucius Academy. She tabled a proposal at this year's Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference for English lessons to no longer be given in kindergarten.

Chinese first and foremost

Ling, a CPPCC member, is also a scholar devoted to the promotion of traditional Chinese culture and language. In her proposal, she says that starting foreign language education for young children is "highly inappropriate."

"Almost all kindergartens and primary schools give kids English lessons now," she said. "But kindergarten-age is the best time for children to learn their mother tongue. They should focus on understanding their own language and culture."

Ling further adds that foreign language education should only begin from high school, to make sure students are given enough time to develop their Chinese language and skills.

Yu Minhong, chief executive of New Oriental, the country's largest English-teaching institute, agrees, saying that schools in the country place too much emphasis on the English curriculum.

"It is ridiculous to teach children English at kindergarten," he said. "The importance of English in College Entrance Examinations should be reduced, putting less pressure on students to learn English."

Ye Lan, chairman of Shanghai Education Association, told the Global Times that more class time should be dedicated to developing a child's mother tongue.

"Learning Chinese is not simply learning a language. It is important for students to learn the Chinese culture through its language," Ye said. "Children should be given time to learn Chinese without distractions at kindergarten."

However, Ye said waiting until high school would be too late, suggesting primary school as an alternative.

"Children need to learn Chinese first," he added. "If they learn two languages at such a young age, they will be confused. They will end up being mediocre in both languages.