Hello. Bonjour. Hola. Guten Tag. Ciao. Ola. Learning a foreign language can be equally daunting and exciting. But these tips and tricks are sure to make it easier for your child. Read on and help your kids immerse themselves into something new!
As more children become bilingual, parents strive to gift their offspring with a foreign language. It is an excellent idea that parents are also bilingual because they can teach their children another language. They can use several language strategies to raise bilingual children. However, if you do not know another language, you may find it challenging to teach a foreign language. If you want your child to learn another language, you can follow some of the tips and tricks in this article to motivate them.
1. Speak the Language Too
A bilingual or multilingual parent will find it easier to teach their child many languages because they speak them too. If you continuously expose your kid to multilingualism, your kid will catch it early and naturally. An early start is beneficial because children can pick up language skills because they think being multilingual is a way of life.
You can speak several languages at home for your child to have a positive relationship with languages. You may include new languages in their daily life by having fun vocabulary exercises through language learning apps or child-friendly flashcards.
2. Maintain a Schedule for Practice
Older children must be more conscious about practicing a second language, and you can support the development of healthy learning routines. You can ensure that your kid has time for practice writing, reviewing class notes, and improving their comprehension.
Memory with repetition coupled with excellent learning habits is a proven way for your child to respond well to structure. You may allot an hour each day to learn a second language.
3. Let Your Child Read Books
Children’s books have a simple vocabulary and teach the basics of language grammar and structure, and they serve as a perfect foundation for teaching a foreign language. Toddlers have an innate love of reading, and if you read to them, they will love reading books even more. You will discover that by reading books, they make incredible progress daily.
On the other hand, older children may require more encouragement, but you can ensure that they have active reading in the second language for it to stick. Their reading skills in the new language will improve if you provide them access to foreign copies of books they love.
4. Discover a New TV Series
You can make screen time a language exposure activity by turning to another channel. More kids’ shows are available in multiple languages, and you may change the language setting of their favorite show on Netflix. If you expose them to a second language, they will not find it difficult to follow their preferred program in that language. Children become more open and patient than adults who may show some form of discomfort watching something in another language.
If you have teenagers, you may search for popular sitcoms or shows in the second language you wish for them to learn. Watching a program regularly comprising healthy conversation in another language can help them follow the spoken dialogue. Moreover, they will also get to learn colloquialisms.
5. Send Your Child Abroad
You do not have to buy a plane ticket and see your child off at the airport, but you can enroll them on a language course abroad, especially during the summer holidays. Living abroad for a few weeks can make them learn the language of another country. This experience will turbocharge their learning and inspire them to spend more time on it. Teenagers often lose their motivation, so you can send them abroad to see the real benefit of speaking in a second language with new friends.
6. Final Thoughts
People around the world can unite if they speak several languages. Knowing languages can be an excellent opportunity for your child to make friends from other countries. Teaching them a second language can help them understand more cultures as they communicate with others.
About the Author
Eliza Sadler is a prolific journalist with four years of extensive experience. She also dabbles as a freelance writer and produces several high-quality articles for an essay writing website. She can deliver original works. You can email her if you wish to connect with her.
Featured image credit: Leonardo Toshiro Okubo on Unsplash
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