Collaborative Post
Are your kids currently learning a new language? Or would you like them to? However old they are, most linguists argue that you’re really never to young to take on this skill. Once you’ve got it under your belt, the world really is your oyster.
After all, your children will be able to communicate across countries and cultures. Also, recent studies suggest that learning a second language can improve our brain performance.
Betters till, helping your child achieve fluency can be easy – why not follow our top tips to find out how?
Tune into foreign radio stations with them
Ever heard the saying “a child’s mind is like a sponge?” Well, it’s usually true. Our kids often pick up on what they hear around them, especially when they’re younger. With this in mind, why don’t you immerse them in a second language? True, audiobooks offer a linear educational format – but a lot of the time, children learn best through fun activities, such as listening to music or the radio. So, you could just tune into a foreign radio station to help them improve their skills for free. Simply search on Google to find one that suits your kids. Once you have, they may enjoy listening so much that they’ll forget they’re even learning!
Ask almost any linguist for advice on the fastest way to learn a language, and they’ll most likely reply: “live wherever it’s spoken.” OK, so few of us can afford to move abroad. But you could always book a holiday away to help your child perfect their linguistic skills. For the best results, it’s usually best to visit a place where English is rarely spoken, such as a rural area or lively port town or city.
A trip to Valencian Alicante, for example, could provide plenty of opportunities for fun, adventure and speaking in Spanish. Alicante Airport transfers can also guarantee a simple journey to where you’re staying. Let’s face it, is there a better – or more enjoyable – way to help your kids learn a new language than a vacation?
Read bilingual books together
Do your children love reading? If so, how about gifting them with a foreign language book or two? Or if you’re wanting to save money, you could always just head to your local library together, as it’s bound to have a rich foreign language section. If your kids are young – and you still read to them at bedtime – you could always find a translation of their favourite story. As they know it already, they won’t need to focus as heavily on the plot – and so, they may be better able to absorb the words they’re hearing. Who knew it could be simpler, or more affordable, to help your kids learn a new language?
Learning a new language doesn’t have to be a challenge – so long as you know how, you can make it fun for your kids. Once you do, you could see them become practically fluent in no time.