Advice for parents who want their children to know multiple languages
It is necessary to expose children to languages other than their mother tongue from the first year of life and to expand their exposure to foreign languages.
Researchers have shown that children who know more than one language have better imagination and are more flexible in their thinking. Learning a foreign language also improves a child’s understanding of their native language. It opens the door to other cultures and helps children understand and appreciate people from other countries. Simply put, learning a foreign language is fun for every child.
Have you ever been surprised to see a child speaking a second, third, or even more languages fluently? They may have a special talent for languages. But in reality, anyone can learn a foreign language, especially at a young age. If you want your child to be bilingual or multilingual, consider these tips from the magazine.Parentsgiven below.
Start early
Every child is born with the ability to imitate the sounds of any language. This ability is best before 10 months of age. So if you want your child to learn a second language, it is best to introduce it in the first year of life.
If your family has a foreign spouse or a caregiver who speaks a second language, the parent or caregiver should speak that language to create a good foreign language learning environment for the child.
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Find a class for your child
When your child does not have the opportunity to learn a second language at home, you can enroll him in a class. Make sure of some criteria. First, it is taught by native speakers. That helps children to listen, speak, and pronounce correctly.
Second, the class should be fun and engaging for children. Look for a class that teaches children through songs, arts and crafts, games, and other child-friendly activities.
Third, the size and duration of the class must be appropriate for the child. There are many types of classes, such as one-on-one, group classes of 6-8 students or more. Classes also vary in length, from 45-90 minutes or longer. Before enrolling your child in any program, ask to observe the class or have your child try it out to see if it is suitable for him or her and if he or she enjoys such long hours.
Enhance home learning
While classes can provide a good foundation for language learning, you still need to reinforce your child's learning at home in a number of ways, such as introducing your child to foreign language picture books, videos, tapes, discs and television shows aimed at young children.
Look for foreign cultural websites that are available in multiple languages; learn foreign languages as soon as you see product labels in supermarkets and restaurants; label household items in foreign languages and practice identifying them...
