Why your child should learn a second language

Being bilingual opens up a whole world of new opportunities and allows you to openly converse with people from other cultures while broadening your perspective. 

For kids, it’s all this plus incredible cognitive benefits!

The sooner you begin exposing your child to a language other than their mother tongue, the easier the process of adjustment and the quicker they’ll progress to mastering a new language. 

What can a second language do for your child?

1. Children who are raised in at least two languages have great social dynamics, and better understand their peers’perspectives, thoughts and intentions.
   
   
2. Learning a second language has been shown to improve critical thinking, problem-solving, listening skills, memory, concentration and multitasking skills. 
   
   
3. Bilingual students have an advantage in school, especially with literacy. A perk of being bilingual is that it creates a better foundation for learning more languages in the future.
   
   
4. Children who are exposed to a variety of languages develop a positive attitude toward different cultures and adapt much more quickly. This encourages them to be open-minded.
   
   
5. Knowing a second language may improve your child's academics, leading to better grades on standardised tests and overall improvement in reading, writing and math skills.
   
   
6. Being bilingual sharpens the mind. Learning and knowing more languages, according to a study by a Canadian psychologist and professor Ellen Bialystok, can help slow down the ageing process in the brain and help prevent or delay illnesses like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

Help your child master a new language

Play games in a foreign language 

Play games like hide-and-seek to help teach children how to count in that language. There are also loads of interactive online games that teach the foreign names for animals, colours, shapes, and more simple concepts. 

Switch to programmes in a foreign language 

Stimulate more learning by watching cartoons and kids’ shows in a language other than their own. This will help kids improve their pronunciation.

Jam to songs in a foreign language 

Create a funky foreign playlist of songs in any genre. Songs are excellent memorisation and learning tools, and melodies can help kids remember a lot of words. 

Read books in other languages

Buy your child easy-to-understand books in the language they’re learning. Coupled with vivid imagery and illustrations, these simple stories can make learning much easier. Better yet, get the foreign version of familiar fairytalesales so your child learns even quicker by re-reading stories they already know (just in a new language).

Takeaway

Remember to have fun and relax! Learning a new language can be an enjoyable activity for the whole family.

References:

• https://novakdjokovicfoundation.org/brain-benefits-of-learning-a-second-language-at-early-age/
• https://www.parents.com/bilingual/benefits-of-learning-a-second-language-as-a-child/
• https://www.leadwithlanguages.org/why-learn-languages/early-childhood-elementary/
• https://www.thelondonmother.net/teach-kids-second-language/
• https://www.eslbase.com/teaching/language-acquisition-vs-language-learning

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only. Always check with your doctor or medical practitioner about any health concerns, before embarking on any fitness or nutrition programme, and usage of any medication.