The earlier a child learns a new language, the greater the likelihood her or she will achieve native status in it.
We have all heard how kids are brilliant at learning new languages. Their brains are wired to do just so and the earlier they learn a new language, the greater the likelihood her o she will achieve native status in it. But if it’s so easy for them to learn, then why don’t more children speak multiple languages? Why do so many second and third generation children of immigrants not speak the native language of their parents?
The short answer is that it’s hard work. It may be easy for a child to learn, but being a parent who facilitates the learning takes great effort and dedication! (If you want to know some of my reasons for why I have chosen to raise my children to be bilingual, click here).
Learning languages is a complex process and there’s no easy trick to make your kids magically learn. However, I have a list of 4 things you should do when raising your children to be bilingual or multilingual. If these conditions are met, your kids are bound to learn.
So, how can you best teach your young child a second language? You have to speak a lot. You should be talking to your child about everything they do and see and everything that you do. This is how they learn vocabulary and sentence structure.
Talk To Them – A Lot
Seriously, ‘til your throat hurts. If you want to raise your child(ren) to be multilingual you have to provide exposure and opportunities to use the languages. Children learn language from observing the world around them and the first place they will learn is at home. Parents are a child’s first and most important teachers and we have a great influence on what and how they will learn. So, how can you best teach your young child? You have to speak a lot. You should be talking to your child about everything they do and see and everything that you do. This is how they learn vocabulary and sentence structure. I read a great blog in which the author talks about filling up her child’s language bucket, and I think that’s a fantastic metaphor! (Check out her blog post here) If by the time you have spent a few hours with your young child your throat isn’t sore, you probably haven’t been doing your job.
Reading will not only help your child with the development of several languages, but it will help you practice your language skills and it will stir up topics for continued conversation.
Read To Them
One of the best things you can do for your child is read to them. If you read 20 minutes a day to your child, they will be exposed to 1.8 million words a year! Reading will not only help your child with the development of several languages, but it will help you practice your language skills and it will stir up topics for continued conversation. It is also a great time to connect with your child. After all, connecting is what language is all about.
Family, friends and playgroups are all great support groups for learning and practicing a second language. Increasingly you can find pre-schools, language immersion programs, or weekend language schools in the target language.
Community Engagement
One important indicator for multi-lingual success is the influence of the community on the language. If children live in a community that supports their bilingualism, they are much more likely to be successful. We need to make it necessary for children to speak with the target language, because simply using it at home with mom or dad won’t be enough.
Family, friends and playgroups are all great support groups. Increasingly you can find pre-schools, language immersion programs, or weekend language schools in the target language. Other great sources for language learning are religious and cultural centers, as many Churches, Mosques, and Temples want to preserve heritage and languages too.
You can also combine activities and interests. Try to find classes and instructors for activities that your children enjoy that are taught in the target language. Maybe a dance teacher who will work with your child in Spanish, a music teacher who might speak Mandarin, or an art instructor who will work with your child in Romanian. Research the internet and social media, because you may find someone who can combine the skills that are important to you and your child.
Technology is not a replacement for human interaction, but it can be a great support system for our language learning goals.
Music, Videos & Apps
Technology is miraculous. Let’s take advantage of it! Never before have we had access to as much music in different languages as we do now. Children, teenagers, and adults absolutely love music, so lets use it. There are also many videos and apps that are made specifically for children to learn and practice language. Some are better than others, so please do your homework. Take the time to read reviews, ask people, and even play the games. It’s also a great idea to play the games with your children or watch when they play in order to see how they are benefiting and how you can build upon what they are learning.
Technology is not a replacement for human interaction, but it can be a great support system for our language learning goals. If you are interested in learning about our Spanish Safari App, check us out!
Keep in mind, language learning is not a sprint, but a marathon. It takes a lifetime to learn, so encourage your children to be lifelong learners. You may have set-backs and perhaps you won’t be able to do all of the above, but don’t give up. The project is well worth the effort!
What conditions do you think need to be met in order for a child to learn multiple languages? I would love to hear from you in the comments!
About The Author
Keli Garcia Allen is a certified Spanish teacher and currently works as a Preschool teacher in a bilingual classroom. She is the Head of Content for Learn Safari and is currently working on Spanish Safari, a Spanish Learning game for children 4-10 years old. You can follow her and the rest of the team on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
My grandson goes to.in home day care where the dad speaks. English and the mom speaks Spanish so the kids are exposed to both daily
Hi Kathy, that’s great! The more exposure the better!
I agree with Tanvir! The more exposure, the better. Language is beautiful!
it has been going all well. my kid is hald italian half egyptian n we are living in italy. italian is dominant of course. she is 2 years now she fully understands arabic. but her vocab is developing more in italian due to the nursery which is kind of frustrating to me 🙂 lately though i have noticed that when she reads the book she says the words in italian but if i ask her where is the “word in arabic ” she easily picks it up too…. is she more passive in arabic? or it is just me being Jealous? if not how can i make her more pro-active with arabic.
I don’t think it’s you “just being jealous.” It is very understandable that you want your child to learn your language! You are able to share a piece of yourself through it that just won’t translate. She probably is more passive in Arabic, because she has a lot more input in Italian. Don’t be deterred by the Italian. You don’t need to minimize her exposure to it, you just need to increase her exposure to Arabic. So, whenever you speak to her do so in Arabic. But not just by responding to her. Whatever she says to you in Italian, say it back in Arabic, and even ask her to repeat it to you sometimes.
My daughter (who is also 2) was speaking in English a lot to me, so I would just repeat it all in Spanish. It’s gotten to the point where she just speaks in Spanish to me, because she is used to it being “our language.” Also, read a lot of books in Arabic! (or translate books that you have on the spot…takes a lot of brainpower I know! hahaha).
Lastly, don’t forget about technology. Now, you don’t want to let a 2 year old be in front of a screen 24/7, but it’s ok to let her either watch a little bit of tv, videos, youtube, or even language Apps. I allow my little one 30 minutes a day of screen time, but it’s always in Spanish, to reinforce the minority language. Hope this all helps! Good luck and don’t give up 🙂
As Keli said, exposure is key. Go out with your daughter and meet people who speaks Arabic, so she will realise that others speak mammy’s language. I speak Italian to my son and I started to get together with other Italian speakers and he now understands that there are more people speaking daddy’s funny language. Good luck!
Noha 00, you just said when my daughter reads? but she is 2 years old!! does she really read?
My son is 7 years old and completly bilingual, my husband speaks only English with him …from the time he was inside my belly, ….and did the same en Español…. Now we are doing the same with our second baby girl.The 4 things you mention are so true.
That’s awesome! People thought I was a little weird, because I was always talking to my belly when I was pregnant. They learn so much from the time they are in the womb! It’s great to hear success stories 🙂
In my view, it is crucially important to do everything possible and even impossible to raise a bilingual and multilingual child. You simply can’t imagine how crucial it is!
Definitely agree!
I 100% agree with you. It is true that if parents don’t speak to the kids in their own language, then there is no way the child is going to learn. I hear many times mums ‘complaining’ that their children can’t speak their language properly and how sorry they are, but if they don’t expose the child to it, how can they learn?
Love this! Raising children with two or more languages is a gift! I encourage every parent to take that journey. Like Keli says, it is not easy but so worth it! And you are not alone. There are so many resources today than what I have when I was raising my children. Take advantage of them, use them to help you. Share with other parents, ask questions. My e-book,Raising Bilingual Children, could help. It is filled with suggestions like the ones Keli mentioned above. Thank You, Keli and Learn Safari for being here and for everything you are doing for parents today! Maritere (Mari) Rodriguez Bellas