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Raising Bilingual Kids

Boy readingWe're all aware that having a decent knowledge of another language is a really wonderful life skill, that will not only prove useful on holiday, but can also open ones eyes to whole other cultures and ways of life, as well as bringing improved job opportunities. However, as anyone who has attempted to learn a foreign language as an adult will be able to appreciate, learning a new language is far from easy. By the time we reach our adult years it takes us much longer to pick up new skills and this is particularly true for the acquisition of another language. As children, we are much better at absorbing new languages - partly because we are in the process of learning our own mother tongue - and the language learning process is much less strenuous than it can be as you grow older.

However, the ease at which children pick up new languages isn't the only reason that it's a great idea for children to learn languages at an early age. First and perhaps foremost, many studies have shown that learning a second language at an early age has a positive effect on a person's intellectual growth and enhances mental development. Standardised tests on young people in their teens show that those who have mastered a second language to a reasonable level generally perform better and it is assumed this is because speaking a second (or even third) language exercises the brain and forces it to work in ways it wouldn't ordinarily do.

Girl smilingAnother benefit of learning another language of an early age is that it gives children an advantage when learning to read and a solid knowledge of a second language also gives children a much better understanding of their mother tongue. We largely use our native language without really thinking about the whys and wherefores, but learning another language and thinking about tenses and grammar rules encourages children to approach their own language in a more analytical way; essentially, the more children learn about a foreign language, the more they understand about their own.

Learning a language from an early age is also beneficial to children, as it encourages them to develop a better ear for listening and generally means they have a more flexible way of thinking. Language learning at an early age also means children are more likely to pick up a natural-sounding accent, rather than sounding like an English person speaking German (for example), as is likely to be the natural result when we learn languages as adults.

There are many ways to teach young children a foreign language, though it is unsurprisingly easiest if you can speak or are learning the language yourself. Studies show that parents have much greater success teaching their children a second language when they have mastered that language to some level themselves. A good way to introduce a foreign language is to use it in everyday situations that they are familiar with and then perhaps include foreign language games or flash cards into leisure activities. Children are very receptive to hearing languages, so watching films and television programmes that are in both your native language and second language are an excellent tool for language learning.

The best way to help children learn foreign languages at home is to make language learning interesting for them and something they will enjoy doing. A good idea is to Study Child Care Courses, as these are likely to provide inspiration for ways of incorporating language learning into your child's everyday life.

 

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