TEACHING YOUR CHILD A NEW LANGUAGE
Globalization has made it necessary to be fluent in more than one language. Having seen the benefits of knowing an additional language, quite a good number of parents want their kids to learn another language besides the common family language.
Teaching your kid a new or foreign language should not be difficult if you put in the effort and develop effective learning strategies. There are many reasons why you should teach your kid another language, and if you are wondering where to start, there are few tips to help you.
Start them early
Babies can acquire language skills way before their birth while they are still in the womb and are able to cry in the rhythms of the language the family speaks. You can use this to your advantage by speaking in the language you’d want them to speak in. Since their brains are developing and thus more receptive to information, they are able to acquire language mastery faster than the average adult. Sing songs to them and let them read books written in the language you want them to learn.
Speak to them in the language
Children learn to speak by imitation. It will not, therefore, be difficult to teach your child a new language if you speak it. Let the rest of the family members also communicate to them in that language, and they will start talking in it in a few weeks. When your child is in a set up where the new language is mostly spoken, they will naturally acquire it as well. Watching TV programs and reading to them books written in that language will help them master the language faster.
Begin with simple and short words.
Start them off with simple and short words and progress gradually to longer sentences. Using single words like names of items is preferable. Translate the name of common household goods for them into that new language. Make it fun, so they find it enjoyable. When they have mastered the names of common items, gradually introduce them to longer sentences using those words.
Depending on their age, you can introduce trivia like weird facts as a reward for words gotten correctly.
Keep your patience
If you know the reasons to teach your kids a new language, then you should be patient with them during the learning process. Take your time to teach them and should they not master it immediately, be patient with them. Patience is important in teaching children anything. Furthermore, each kid learns at their own individual pace and you shouldn’t compare them with their siblings or other kids in your neighborhood.
Be audible
Speak slowly so they may catch the correct pronunciation and vocal intonation. Do not speak as fast as you would to a grownup. Communicate to them articulately and fluently. If you struggle to teach them yourself, enroll them in a class – you should also join!
Repeat
Repeat what you have taught them a couple more times to make it stick. This also builds their confidence in speaking the language.
