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Teach Kids A Second Language |
By:
George Williams |
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It is not easy teaching your child a second language. But it is
a rewarding experience teaching them and you can open their
young to explore a new world of sights and sounds. Even if
you're not entirely fluent in another tongue, here are 5 simple
ways you can help your child learn to speak a second language
confidently and easily.
1. Remember the earlier, the better. By the age of two, a
child's brain is sucking up and processing all the information
he or she comes in contact with, so it's an ideal time to start
learning a second language. You may think, "But he hasn't even
mastered ENGLISH yet!" That's okay! Believe it or not, children
can easily juggle two (or more) languages at once without the
difficulty that their adult counterparts may have if they try to
learn the same language when they're older. Learning two
separate languages will also not hinder your child's reading or
speaking ability. In fact, it will actually improve and broaden
their vocabulary as they get older, since many foreign language
words are used in English as well.
2. It is better to teach your child with some simple words and
basic greetings first. Learning a language does take time and
repetition, so only move on when your child feels comfortable
and confident in using what he or she has already learned. If
you're not completely fluent yourself, but still want your child
to have the benefit of a second language, purchase a good
dictionary and work book to reinforce what you already know so
that you can teach it to your child.
3. You can try to make studying language to be a fun time by
setting aside a special "Language-Only" time. Practice the
language together with your child through music, books or videos
and use this time to speak and play together using only the
second language. It's a great way to build up the child's
interest in another culture and will help him learn the language
more completely and thoroughly.
4. If your significant other speaks a foreign language, consider
having him or her speak only in the foreign language to the
child, while you speak to them in English. This will quickly
help the child understand each language's structure and
differences, and he won't be as likely to get confused. Remember
though, language learning is a slow by steady process. Let your
child know not to worry about making a mistake or sounding
silly. That's the only way he or she will become confident
enough to speak the language on a regular basis.
5. Whenever possible, immerse your child in the second language
as often as you can. Taking trips to the place where the
language is spoken is a great way to make a language feel "real"
to a child. Children mimic what they see, so seeing others speak
and use the language in their day-to-day lives will show him
that he can do the same!
The most important thing of all is to treat learning a second
language like a fun "adventure" rather than a tedious chore. If
you keep these tips in mind, it won't be long before your child
is equally comfortable and proficient in both languages! Good
luck!
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Article Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article36351.html |
Article: Teach Kids A Second Language
Author: George Williams
Total Views: 63
Word Count: 499
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