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Is Your Baby Multilingual?
© Copyright BabyClassroomParents often wonder if introducing a child to a "second" language before he has mastered his first won't be more confusing than it's worth, but experts agree that when it comes to young children, the more exposure to languages -- yes, that's plural -- the better.
Learning foreign languages helps children develop native language skills, says Nancy Rhodes, director of foreign language education at the Center for Applied Linguistics. It strengthens their vocabulary and their understanding of language structures in general.
A young child's brain is naturally adept at language acquisition, Rhodes adds, making it an ideal time to introduce languages. "Their brains are geared up for that," she says, "and it's not much harder for a child to learn a second, third, fourth or fifth language."
Research has shown numerous advantages in children who were exposed to a foreign language at an early age. They tend to read earlier, score higher on standardized tests, demonstrate a higher capacity for foreign language learning later in life and speak with more native sounding accents than those of us who learn later. They're also exposed to different cultures as young children, fostering an appreciation for and understanding of global diversity.
Even if you're not bilingual, you can expose your child to the richness of foreign languages while they're young. In fact, if you share some of the engaging activities that follow with your little ones, you can learn a new language along with them!
Language Learning for Little Ones:
Play Games: According to Rhodes, language learning -- like all learning -- is most effective when it's hands-on, and hands-on activities are ideal for young children. If you're teaching color words, for example, roll a red ball to the child and say, "Mira la pelota roja," then ask the child to roll the red ball back. Pretend play games like "grocery store," "school" and "house" are great ways to practice vocabulary. Cooking together and playing dress up are wonderfully rich language development activities as well. "It's much easier to do that with a young child," adds Rhodes, "than with -- heaven forbid -- a 13-year-old!"
Join a Play Group: Joining or forming a play group with families who speak the language you want to learn, as well as other parents who want to teach their children the same language, is an ideal immersion activity with a focus on fun. Playing with children who speak different languages not only helps your child learn vocabulary and usage, it introduces him to the rich diversity of the world's cultures and the similarities we all share.
Share the DVDs: There are a number of delightful DVDs available to teach children foreign languages. The key is to share the DVDs with your children. Watch together and talk about what you see and hear. Recite the words and perform the activities together. Use the words you learn in the DVDs throughout your daily activities.
Sing A Song: Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? Do you still remember jingles from the television commercials of your youth? Music is a remarkable memory tool and a wonderful way to share languages as well as the traditional and popular cultures of another country. With programs like Professor Toto Sing & Learn French, German, Italian and Spanish -- developed by pioneering early childhood language teacher Francois Thibaut -- as well as the Boca Beth musical Spanish DVDs, you and your kids can begin learning a new language with your very first chorus!
Build Your Library: Sharing books is another great way to expose your child to foreign languages and diverse cultures. Choose simple picture books like The First Picture Word Book in French to introduce words and concepts. Choose story books (they can be written in English with just a few foreign words for beginners) to share fairy tales and myths. You can even find bilingual books including House-Casa Board Book, House-Casa Interactive Book, and Colors of China, with two languages side by side.
Converse: There's no better way to learn a language than to use it. Try to use the words you and your kids have learned when you go for a walk, eat dinner, or give your child a bath. It's a great way to share secrets, too, as long as you know there are no fluent eavesdroppers around!
Don't Stress: As with any activity you share with your child, keep the atmosphere relaxed and enjoyable. If your child seems fatigued or uninterested, stop what you're doing and take a break. We want our children to know a foreign language, but we also want them to know that learning is fun!
At Baby Classroom, we want to help nurture future citizens of the world by providing you with the best foreign language books and DVDs available. Choose from Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and even multi-language sets. And don't forget, Sign Language isn't foreign, but it is another language!
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