Learning a second language is easy for youngsters in their first few years of life and without an accent. It won’t bog them down, so you will not have to worry.
There are a lot of parents who cannot wait for their little ones to start this new language, whether it be at home when they’re still newborns in the nursery or at school. At a young age, it’s not bad for kids to learn a second or third language because it doesn’t hurt them.
Studies have shown that learning a second language early on can have a lot of benefits. This ranges from big changes in behavior and conduct to more empathy and sensitivity towards other people. It’s been found that bi/multilingual kids do better, or at least as good on tests, than non-multilingual ones.
Kids need an introduction to second languages between 10 months and 18 months. There’s some disagreement over the optimal age to begin learning a second language. But most experts agree that it should begin before ten years.
Children have a wide range of hearing abilities as well as excellent mimicking abilities. They enjoy communicating, and it is exactly what they need to begin learning a second language. However, how can you keep your child stimulated?
When is the best time to begin?
Though there are grownups who may effectively study a foreign language, the truth is that the younger the learner, the quicker and better they will learn. As a result, your child should begin studying a second language of your choosing as soon as possible.
Children learn without much effort and often without recognizing they’re learning something new while they’re young. They will most likely think they are just playing if you choose the right teacher and class for them.
In addition, they can learn the language if they begin early enough and receive adequate support.
Even if your youngster is in their early adulthood, they can easily learn any language. Nevertheless, the younger they are when beginning, the better their fluency and pronunciation will be.
You can even begin teaching your child the second language while they are still learning their mother tongue. This means they do not have to be a year old to begin.
You don’t have to wait till your child is an adult to enroll them in a language class. Indeed, the sooner kids start studying, the better their chances of learning the language and then being able to use it to their advantage. This is true.
Don’t be hesitant
Contrary to popular belief, the simultaneous introduction of different languages does not confuse youngsters. Not only do they navigate bilingual surroundings naturally, but learning a new language early in life, on the other hand, prepares the brain to learn multiple languages later in life, opening the door to a plethora of opportunities.
Begin early
The amount of time a child can commit to studying a second language is linked to cognitive growth in a direct and favorable way. In addition, longer sequences allow learners to grow with the second language and culture. This allows them to form a stronger bond as they progress.
Languages can be brought to your child’s attention in a variety of ways:
Children’s books:
These books are inexpensive and let kids acquire a second language while improving their reading skills.
Audiovisual aids:
Children like visuals and noises; thus, audiovisual tools are quite useful. Cartoons and films are excellent ways to learn and practice a second language. You can change them to the language of your choice.
Games:
Games allow kids to learn while having fun when playing musical instruments or in groups with children of their own age.
The difference between learning and acquiring a language
A kid learns a language effortlessly without thinking about grammar rules. Acquiring language is a procedure that typically needs communication with a native speaker, most often a parent or another close relative.
Learning a language entails making willful and intentional efforts to memorize certain rules of the language so as to speak it properly. As a result, learning another language will make a youngster bilingual because your mother tongue is something you obtain.
This means that the youngster is equally proficient in both languages. They will not make any grammatical errors, and they will not speak with an unusual accent.
But if a youngster learns and becomes proficient in a language, it is possible that the child will speak with an accent. They will also be able to properly employ some of the more sophisticated grammatical structures.
How does a child benefit from learning a language?
Boost their academic performance
Learning a language directly affects a youngster’s academic success due to its cognitive advantages. Bilingual kids have better math skills, writing, and reading than non-bilingual kids, and they generally perform better on standardized tests.
Enhanced executive function
According to evidence from several researches, learning a second language improves executive function in the brain. This means that multilingual kids perform better in the following areas:
- Planning
- Solving problems
- Concentration
- Multitasking
Feeding their minds
Learning a second language improves listening skills, critical thinking, problem-solving, multitasking abilities, attention, and memory. Young kids who can communicate in more than one dialect show signs of mental flexibility and an increase in creativity.
Prepared to solve problems
Youngsters who acquire a second language become creative thinkers and adept problem solvers as adults. Beginning at a young age, the brain is always attempting to figure out which dialect to speak and when to speak it.
Researchers have discovered that bilingual kids are better at multitasking, concentrating, and planning and have stronger skills at solving problems.
They also outperform the general population on standardized tests. By instilling a second language in your child at a young age, you are setting them up for future success.
Development of tolerance, cultural sensitivity and compassion
Children who are exposed to a variety of languages at an early age have a more positive opinion of the cultures associated with those languages. A child’s exposure to the world expands when they learn a second language.
Allow them to get a head start
Children who learn a second language before the age of 5 use the same section of the brain that they use to study their mother tongue to learn the second language. In addition, younger learners are less concerned about making errors, which can be a barrier for older starters.
What Can You Do to Assist Your Child?
Your assistance will make a huge difference in your child’s success, whether this is your first time learning a second language or you are multilingual. To establish an active and encouraging learning surrounding, you do not have to be proficient in the language your youngster is learning.
Offer as many chances for genuine experience as possible. Take advantage of the numerous online resources and tools at your disposal.
Conclusion
There is no optimal age to begin teaching your child a second language, though there are undoubtedly better times. When it comes to teaching your child a second language, there are numerous factors to consider as a parent.
You will, nevertheless, make the best decision you can. You will not be doing your child a disservice if you wait until they are five or six years old. At the same time, if you start teaching your child a second language, you will be making the right option.
The most crucial things to think about are how, when, and why you want your child to learn new languages. Understanding your motives and the abilities of your child will help you learn a second language more quickly. Kids who speak a second or third language are more creative.
They are also more successful later in life and have more job prospects. If you look through any help wanted ad or employment board, you’ll notice that there are countless multilingual ads.
Employees that can communicate in numerous languages are precious in many international businesses. Help your youngster learn more than simply the target language. Assist your child in understanding the culture and language associated with their first, second, and third languages.