If you’re keen on your child picking up a new language and want some tips on how to get started, then you’ve come to the right place. Learning a new language comes with an array of benefits and is a great skill to be taught from a young age. With it becoming more and more popular, the resources have become easier to access for those who would prefer to study from home. However, not everyone knows how to go about it and can end up finding the entire thing more difficult than it needs to be. Want to get your child started on this incredible journey? Here are some top tips from a prep school in Gerrards Cross on how to do it.
Introduce the language early
The first step to teaching a child a new language is to introduce it to them as early as possible. Even babies can learn a new language if this language is exposed to them as early as birth. In a child’s language development, there is a stage called the critical period. This stage doesn’t recur later on in life and is when certain things such as skills, language and speech diminish as they start to get older. This doesn’t mean that older children are incapable of picking up a new language, it just means a new approach may need to be found to make the process easier. The younger you start, the better the chance of your child mastering a new language.
Teach the basics
Even if the language is foreign to you too, start from the beginning and help your child become familiar with the basics. Doing this together will not only make it easier but will help you both get a good idea of the tones of the language just by listening to it. Use simple but effective methods of introducing the new language such as songs, tv shows and learning shapes, colours and numbers.
Use your resources
Find a good selection of picture books, audiobooks and websites that cater to teaching languages in easy ways. Games and activities such as matching words to pictures are engaging and a great way to pick up new vocabulary. Use screen time for your child to watch films in the new language. Keep the subtitles on so they can understand as they watch. Find opportunities to get your child immersed in the language such as taking them abroad to spend time around native speakers or spending time around someone who is already fluent in it.
Learning a new language is exciting and can open doors for many opportunities. Using the tips above, you’ll have your child on the road to speaking fluently in no time!
