Today, a growing number of parents are enrolling their children in foreign language classes – not just children who are in elementary school, but babies, toddlers and preschoolers. And those numbers are expected to increase. Why? Because of the benefits.
The Benefits of Speaking a Foreign Language
Numerous studies have shown that speaking a foreign language has several benefits including the ability to boost cognitive, memory and listening skills. One study suggests that simply thinking in a foreign language can help people make quicker and better life decisions, while yet another – this one by the College Entrance Examination Board- suggests a direct correlation between foreign language study and high SAT scores. Furthermore, people who speak a foreign language often enjoy a competitive edge when entering the workforce leading to better career prospects and higher standards of living. And of course, a foreign language opens a whole new cultural world to your child.
So knowing all of this, when is the best time to start and how do you get your child to begin learning?
When to Start Teaching Your Child A Second Language
Experts agree that kids should begin to learn a foreign language from a young age; the younger, the better. Extensive research has proven that the earlier a child is introduced to a second language the better the chances are that the child will master both languages. Other studies have found that children who learn to speak two languages at once sound like a native in both tongues. What’s more, they learn to talk at the same speed as kids who learn only a single language.
During the early years of life, and especially the first three years of life, is when a child develops the foundations for thinking, language, vision, attitudes, aptitudes and other characteristics. They are not only increasing their vocabularies, they are starting to recognize speech patterns they have been hearing since birth. Some believe that before the age of three, the ability to hear different phonetic pronunciation is the sharpest, and after these years we lose the capacity to hear and product certain sounds if we are not exposed to them. The earlier you begin exposing your child to a foreign language, the stronger the foundation for your child to continue to build on and learn.
What Language Is Best for Your Child To Learn
Although what language your child learns is completely up to you, it is believed that the following six languages will best benefit your child in the future:
1. Spanish
2. French
3. Mandarin Chinese
4. Italian
5. German
6. ASL – American Sign Language
How To Begin Teaching Your Child To A Second Language
The absolute best way to teach a child anything new is to make sure that child is exposed to it on a regular basis. This can include everything from signing your child up for language lessons to exposing your child to people speaking that language fluently on a regular basis. If you are not ready to sign your child up for lessons, create a casual learning environment at home. Introduce bilingual basics by pointing out to your child that objects can have two names — one in each language. As your child learns new words, tell him what they’re called in a second language too. If a favorite television show is available in another language, show it to your child. If you know someone fluent in your language of choice, have that person spend time with your child speaking in that language. Sing familiar songs in the second language, play word games, label objects with its name in both English and the second language.
Books, CDs, DVDs, games, software and apps in your language of choice can be effective, too. Baby’s Brilliant ABC Languages offers several short movies that are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, and even some in German and French – with more languages in the plans to be added. These movies introduce your toddler to letters, numbers, and animals in these different languages providing a fun and engaging way to expose your young child to a foreign language.
