Learning a language can be a fun, challenging, and rewarding process for children. It can build confidence, improve their other learning activities, and can also have long term benefits for their working adult life. Therefore, it is a process that should be encouraged and supported by parents. Learning a language can take years. As a result of the time and dedication involved, it is important that those learning languages maintain discipline and keep focused on developing their skill. To develop sufficient skills to be fluent and get the most from their language skills, children must be engaged, challenged, and supported throughout their journey. Here are three ways that parents can support their child in learning a language.
Learn the Language Together
Learning a language can benefit young people and adults. Therefore, learning with them can be a good way to share an experience and a joint skill. Whether you learn separately, together or a mixture of the two, it will provide a focus to the learning and give the child someone to practice with.
Invest in Private Tuition
The amount of time dedicated to language learning is being increased in the United Kingdom. However some extra tuition can build on in-class learning and give a child a head start. There are many different options: from dedicated schools, group classes or one to one tuition. Most of these methods are available either locally or deliverable via Skype. It may not be an option for every child, but the benefits of speaking a foreign language may justify the additional expenditure.
Send the Child on a Language Immersion Holiday or Exchange
Although organised exchanges through schools are on the decline, the demand for language immersion experiences continues to grow. Language immersion experiences help children develop their language skills by talking in the language with native speakers in natural situations. This builds on in-class learning as well as developing confidence and the day-day mechanics of the language. Language immersion can be organised either through a traditional language exchange with a child from a country where they speak the language they are learning, or it can be a homestay hosted language immersion holiday where they stay with a host family.