A new language should be exciting, filled with wonder and a lovely experience for children. If they have family members who speak a different language, or your child has taken a keen interest in a particular language, then get involved in giving them a variety of tips, tricks and learning habits to get into. Here in this guide from a top private school in London we explore ways to help your child with their language learning.
Let them absorb different forms of media
From TV programmes to films, songs and books, your child will love being able to interact with all forms of media while still harnessing their skills. Include a healthy mix of media that will allow them to pick up new words naturally, as well as practicing how to speak the language correctly.
Repetition!
Keep practicing the same words and vocabulary to let it stick in a child’s mind. Use those words in different situations and contexts to give your child a number of ways to use what they’ve been learning. The more you repeat the basics, the likelihood that will stay in their minds for a long time.
Speak the language with them
Having someone to talk to about the same language, and using the same knowledge, will give your child the best practice. It will give your child the chance to talk to someone in the language, work on their revision with someone who understands the language, and they can pick up things you’ve learnt as well. This is a great asset for children learning a second language for family reasons.
Test them when you’re on holiday
It shouldn’t feel like it’s their duty to speak the language when you’re out there, but a good tester is to visit the country your child is learning about. They can hear people around them speaking the same language, remind themselves of the words they’ve been learning and what words they can use in the future.
It also gives them a chance to test out their skills. Reading road signs or talking to a person at a cafe for example will give them a quick test of their knowledge. It can be overwhelming for them at times though, so never pressure them to speak freely.
Use word games
A lot of what your child is taught in English can be applied to language lessons. Word games are great for building a child’s ability to build sentences in different languages, as well as giving parents the chance to get involved in learning.