You should be proud that your child is
making an attempt to learn a foreign language, as this is a skill that will
serve them well for the rest of their lives. Don't worry if you do not know the
language yourself; you can still play an important part in the child's learning
process. It can even be a great opportunity for you to learn as well.
Break the learning down into three main
areas: oral, written and verbal. At each stage, there are many useful things
you can do to expose them to the new language and help them get a quicker
grasp. Let's check out each of these below:
Listening Skills:
Various kinds of audiotapes and books are
available as linguistic aids. You can start off with the beginner level tapes
where the speech is recorded very slowly to help the child to comprehend what
is being said. Once they improve you can get them to read aloud. Language
videotapes are even better since the child can see what is being talked about;
their mind makes a faster connection between pictures and the words they hear.
Other ways to enhance children's listening
skills is to get them to watch movies. Make sure that it has subtitles in their
native language, else they might be completely lost and the exercise will be a
waste.
Music is also an effective teaching medium;
expose them to simple songs written for children for the purposes of learning.
It will help if you can get the translated version of songs in the language
that they already know; the familiar melody will keep them interested in
listening to the song. Or you can be creative, take one of their favorite songs
and get it translated into another language.
Written Skills:
Learning a new language is easier if it
uses the same alphabet set that the child is used to reading and writing in. A
good example of this is English and French, although the accents will be new in
the case of the latter. On the other hand, a child who understands English and
is trying to learn Russian will have to put in more time and effort in because
the language is completely new. There are many words in the French language
that are in fact similar to the English equivalent and could be guessed without
having heard the word before.
For example: musicale and musical or
omelette and omelet
Another great tip for helping your children
improve their written understanding is to get them to sign up for a penpal who
is fluent in the language they are learning. This is a bit of an old tradition
but rather than exchanging letters they can exchange emails, which are much
quicker and will speed up the learning process. They will get a chance to talk
to real people about real-life topics in a new language. This also allows them
to move away from a formal speech style taught in textbooks to one that is
actually used in daily life.
Spoken Skills:
It is easier to learn to read and write in
a new language, but speaking it is the toughest of all. The child is not used
to the new sounds that their tongue is expected to produce; this often makes
them shy away from trying but persistence and encouragement are key. The most
effective way to learn a foreign language is to visit the country and encourage
participation with locals even if it is just a few words to start with such a
hello, good bye, good morning and good night.
If cost is an issue then you can get
creative and have night in at home dedicated to the particular country. For
example, if you are trying to help your child learn Spanish then have a Spanish
themed evening with decorations, traditions, flags, and food. At the beginning
your can encourage repetition by referring to an object or piece of food in the
child's language and getting them to pronounce the equivalent in Spanish.
Take every opportunity to get them to speak
the new language, as this is where the real gains in term of fluency and
understanding will happen. You could get them to join a language club at school
or meet up with friends who speak this language. Dining at a specialty
restaurant where this is the primary language of the chefs and waiters is also
a good idea; encourage your children to read the menu and place the order.
Explain to them that it is ok for them to use the wrong pronunciation in the
beginning or to take extra time in framing their sentences before they speak.
They will definitely improve with continued practice over time.
Experiences and Cultural References:
When learning a foreign language, children
tend to lose focus quickly but keep them encouraged by constantly spending time
with them and coming up with creative ways to learn. Be open to trying new or
different techniques, remember not every child learns in the same way. Learning a new language can be the most
exciting adventure your child has had, provided you make it fun for them.
Author Bio:
Jennifer Baracho is currently a writer for how2become.com, a multi-linguist and enjoys traveling to explore
new cultures and languages. She has years of experience in educating children
of all ages and loves teaching French and Spanish.
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