How to Help Your Child Learn a New Language

Learning a new language from a young age not only prepares children for studying languages at school, but it also improves their overall learning abilities. Studies show that multilingual children have enhanced critical thinking and creativity skills. Furthermore, language skills can lead to more career opportunities in the future.

If you are looking for some advice on how to help your child learn a new language, here are some great tips from an independent school in London…

Language practice

To help your child learn a new language, you will need to encourage them to practice daily. This can be done at home using books and online resources, or you could enrol your child in a local language class. Another helpful idea for home learning is using translation posters or sticky labels around your house. This will help your child to memorise words and enrich their new vocabulary.

Online learning

There are lots of fantastic language learning resources available online. Many are free and very easy for children to use. These are a great way to encourage learning through fun and interactive games. Help your child to get set up on your computer, or download an app onto your smart phone or tablet. This way you can take their language learning with you wherever you go.

Television

Foreign-language television programmes can be really useful for children’s language learning. Your child will be able to follow along visually, whilst listening to natural conversation and pause or rewind where necessary. This learning technique will help to improve your child’s pronunciation and sentence structure.

Music

Finally, music is an ideal way to teach children new languages. Studies have shown that listening to songs and singing along helps children to memorise the lyrics. So, why not use the power of music to help your child memorise a new language? If you have younger children you could introduce them to nursery rhymes in your chosen language.

Note: This is a collaborative post