After a recent trip to Spain where we visited friends, I became so thoroughly impressed by their 7-year-old son who not only spoke Spanish and English fluently, but also spoke conversational Korean and French. But he is not the anomaly. In many non-English speaking European countries, it’s not uncommon for students to speak two foreign languages by the age of 9 because foreign language is an integral part of their school curriculum. I couldn’t help feeling that our kids were at a disadvantage in this regard.
The benefits of learning a foreign language are far reaching and extend beyond simply linguistic advantages. Kids who speak more than one language have better problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. In their book, “The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language,” Drs. King and Mackey give the problem-solving example of the different ways to use an empty water bottle. Bilingual children, they said, came up with more answers because their brains were mentally flexible. Research shows that bilingual children reach early milestones sooner.
So how exactly do you teach your kids a second language? If our schools aren’t doing it, then it’s a task we have to take on at home. Yet, the casual and sporadic dialogue I engage my kids with sprinkled Korean words here and there isn’t nearly enough to get the job done, I’ve learned. Experts weigh in and offer these helpful tips for teaching your child a second language.
1. Teach through a fun activity. It’s not secret that our brains retain material we’re interested in. But too often, language is taught using flashcards or out of a textbook in a very dry manner. But by engaging in an activity that your child might find more interesting, like making a car out of a box, is likely to help your child remember, and having the process and nouns re-explained in a foreign language, is more likely to get your child remembering words and phrases in a foreign language.
2. Teach through repetition. Even if your child doesn’t seem to be picking up the language right away, keep repeating the words and phrases you taught him. Learning a foreign language takes time, and it’s often hard to predict when the seeds begin to sprout. Just know that the eventually do.
3. Use body language. When your child can associate your exaggerated and expressive gestures, facial expressions, and physical demonstrations with vocabulary, he is more likely to comprehend and remember those terms.
And if you’re monolingual:
1. Have your child spend time with a native speaker. Learning language through social interaction is much more effective than learning through a book or even via audio tapes, research shows.
2. Find media in another language. While using audio or video media to learn a language may be less effective than in-person interactions, it is still a form of exposure that can help your child learn a foreign language. For instance, finding music in a foreign language that both you and your child can enjoy together is a great way to help your child learn new words in foreign language.
3. Learn the language together. This certainly is the most time-consuming option. But if you’re motivated to learn a language, by utilizing a program like Rosetta Stone, it could be some good quality time spent with your little one.