The question, ‘when is the best time to learn a language?’ is one that we get asked time and time again. Although there is no right or wrong answer to this query, most experts say that it’s a case of the younger the better when learning a second, third or fourth language.
According to Dr Patricia Kuhl, Professor of Speech and Hearing Sciences and co-director of the Institute for Learning and Brain Sciences at the University of Washington, by the age of three, a child’s brain is twice as active as an adult’s brain, making them the perfect candidate to learn new skills, including adding a foreign language to their repertoire. There are a number of advantages to learning a new language as a young child, with toddlers and preschoolers regularly achieving fluency in a second language with the right guidance.
At Lingoo, we cater to language learners of all ages, from young children and teens to adults. For parents looking to raise bilingual or even multilingual children, starting their education as a toddler is a good way to go. Discover our top tips for teaching a toddler a second language.
Make learning a part of their everyday
The success of language learning, as with any form of learning, comes down to repetition. Whether you’re opting for traditional classroom-based learning or are going down the immersive route, active engagement on a daily basis is key.
With toddlers, activities that involve the learning of their native language and a second language work well. Experts recommend doing the English-based activity and then repeating the same activity using the target second language two or three days later for maximum effectiveness.
Introduce them to native speakers
Casual learning environments tend to work better for young children, including toddlers, when learning a second language.Francois Thibaut, director of the Language Workshop for Children, suggests introducing children to native speakers, whether that’s yourself, your partner, a family member, or friend, to accelerate the language learning process:
“The best way for a child to learn to understand a new language is for him to hear people speaking it fluently, says Thibaut. If he's exposed to conversations, he'll begin to pick up the sounds and the natural accent. Choose a language that is spoken in your neighborhood, on a television show your child can watch regularly, or one that is offered in classes or playgroups in your area.”
Hire a language au pair or book a homestay
Another great way to expose your child to native speakers is by hiring a language au pair or booking a family language homestay. Language learning is far more than just repeating a list of foreign words and phrases. Experiencing the culture that goes hand-in-hand with a new language will help your toddler and the wider family learn more about the country from which these words originate.
If the second language you are teaching your child is your native language, a well-timed family language homestay or exchange holiday could help you teach your child more about their heritage.
You don’t have to jet off to reap the rewards of language exchange. Language au pairs can come to stay in your family home, sharing their language in exchange for accommodation and meals.
Take it one step at a time
Toddlers and young children may be labelled ‘sponges’ when it comes to describing their learning abilities but it is important to have reasonable expectations. Language learning should be fun and enjoyable. So take lessons one step at a time to make their target language more digestible.
Simply hearing words, watching videos, playing games, using language learning apps and singing songs in another language can provide the exposure they need to understand and learn. Remember that fluency doesn’t happen overnight, it takes time and patience to achieve.
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