Being able to speak another language is a truly wonderful skill. As well as opening up whole new countries and new cultures, the cognitive benefits of being bilingual can extend well into later life, making your brain more agile and more flexible for good.
If you dream of your children switching seamlessly between a number of different tongues, getting them started early is key. Research has shown that the more kids are exposed to different languages early on in life, the better.
Toddlers and Pre-school
The earlier they start, the easier it will be for them to really grasp the structure and the accent of the language. It will also help them to achieve true fluency as they get older.
Learning a new language is much easier for kids under the age of six or seven and there’s some evidence to show that if they’re not introduced to a language before this point, achieving a native level of speaking may not be possible
When it comes to teaching languages to young children, lessons are generally very relaxed and focus more on play than on structured learning. Teaching kids simple songs and rhymes is enough to get their brains working and can help to develop accents, understanding and vocabulary.
If you’re interested in teaching your toddler or pre-schooler a new language, you can begin by simply buying some kids music or films in that language. This will help to expose your little ones to different sounds while their brains are still able to soak the information up quickly and easily.
Young Children
When kids are three or four, their verbal skills are still rapidly developing, making this a great time to introduce a second language. Again, teaching another language at this age can be fun and largely based on play, however there’s often a little more emphasis on vocabulary as the kids get older.
If your kids are older than six or seven, don’t worry, giving them high quality language tuition, and encouraging them to take part in exchanges and talk with native speakers, will ensure they still attain a high level in their chosen language.
The benefits of being bilingual
The younger you can start your kids on a new language, the more chance they’ll have of being truly bilingual. Study after study has shown that there are considerable benefits to being bilingual, from improved learning abilities to better job prospects.
The earlier you can start your children down the road to becoming bilingual, the more likely it is they’ll achieve their goal quickly and easily, something that’s sure to stand them in great stead for the future.
Find out more about how your child can practice new language skills through young learner language holidays or hire a language au pair to stay with you and teach your children their native language.
