| It is not easy teaching your child a second | | | | "Language-Only" time. Practice the language |
| language. But it is a rewarding experience teaching | | | | together with your child through music, books or |
| them and you can open their young to explore a | | | | videos and use this time to speak and play |
| new world of sights and sounds. Even if you're | | | | together using only the second language. It's a |
| not entirely fluent in another tongue, here are 5 | | | | great way to build up the child's interest in |
| simple ways you can help your child learn to | | | | another culture and will help him learn the language |
| speak a second language confidently and easily. | | | | more completely and thoroughly. |
| 1. Remember the earlier, the better. By the age | | | | 4. If your significant other speaks a foreign |
| of two, a child's brain is sucking up and processing | | | | language, consider having him or her speak only in |
| all the information he or she comes in contact | | | | the foreign language to the child, while you speak |
| with, so it's an ideal time to start learning a | | | | to them in English. This will quickly help the child |
| second language. You may think, "But he hasn't | | | | understand each language's structure and |
| even mastered ENGLISH yet!" That's okay! | | | | differences, and he won't be as likely to get |
| Believe it or not, children can easily juggle two (or | | | | confused. Remember though, language learning is |
| more) languages at once without the difficulty | | | | a slow by steady process. Let your child know |
| that their adult counterparts may have if they try | | | | not to worry about making a mistake or sounding |
| to learn the same language when they're older. | | | | silly. That's the only way he or she will become |
| Learning two separate languages will also not | | | | confident enough to speak the language on a |
| hinder your child's reading or speaking ability. In | | | | regular basis. |
| fact, it will actually improve and broaden their | | | | 5. Whenever possible, immerse your child in the |
| vocabulary as they get older, since many foreign | | | | second language as often as you can. Taking trips |
| language words are used in English as well. | | | | to the place where the language is spoken is a |
| 2. It is better to teach your child with some | | | | great way to make a language feel "real" to a |
| simple words and basic greetings first. Learning a | | | | child. Children mimic what they see, so seeing |
| language does take time and repetition, so only | | | | others speak and use the language in their |
| move on when your child feels comfortable and | | | | day-to-day lives will show him that he can do the |
| confident in using what he or she has already | | | | same! |
| learned. If you're not completely fluent yourself, | | | | The most important thing of all is to treat learning |
| but still want your child to have the benefit of a | | | | a second language like a fun "adventure" rather |
| second language, purchase a good dictionary and | | | | than a tedious chore. If you keep these tips in |
| work book to reinforce what you already know | | | | mind, it won't be long before your child is equally |
| so that you can teach it to your child. | | | | comfortable and proficient in both languages! Good |
| 3. You can try to make studying language to be a | | | | luck! |
| fun time by setting aside a special | | | | |