Whether or not to teach your child another language, especially before high school is a question a lot of families have to consider. In some parts of the world, children learn multiple languages from the time they are born. In other places, such as the United States, children are not learning a second language at a high rate and are not even exposed to other languages until they are in high school and are on the college career path.
I have heard from parents they are scared to try to teach their child another language. You should not be afraid about teaching your child more than his native tongue. There are many resources out there to help you. In fact, the younger your child is when he starts to learn other languages, the easier it will be for him. Yes, there are even resources for the toddler who is still learning the English language to learn other languages such as French or German. Think of it this way, you’ll be learning right along with your child. There is no better way to learn a language.
Laguanges and My Son
I know when I found out I was pregnant with my son, I had to face this decision. I had to decide whether to just teach him his native tongue or teach him other languages. My husband and I chose to teach him multiple languages from birth. Actually, he heard music and children’s stories in several languages when he was still in the womb. I decided I wanted my son to be a citizen of the world I wanted nothing to hold him back and if language would be that barrier then I would work at removing it.
Citizen of the World
Almost all babies are what I call citizens of the world. Unless they are deaf or have a hearing impairment, they can hear all the sounds and clicks that are heard in all languages. As we get older, we no longer can hear these subtle sounds. This is where the saying, “use it or lose it” really hits home. When children are young, is the best time for them to learn these languages. They can still easily hear a rolling r or a slight click that as young adults and adults, we no longer can hear.
My Language Decision
I decided to teach my son his native tongue, English, along with other languages so he could be a citizen of the world. Since my former roommate was hard of hearing and I had helped teach both adults ASL and the baby sign class, I chose to teach my son baby sign too. This is similar to ASL. Since babies cannot developmentally do all the signs, it is a simpler version. I taught my son baby sign, French, German, along with some Italian, Latin, and Spanish. At first, language was mostly conversational. This allowed him to hear it and respond with needs or tell us what he wanted. There were children’s stories told on audio. These exposed him to colors, numbers, foods, and many other words. As he got a little older, I added some words. Of course, he could understand a lot more than he would be able to write. Writing comes last. This sequence seems to be the best way to learn languages.
Language Resources
There are many resources out there to help you in teaching your child other languages. You can even use these resources to help you learn the language too. Look for resources at the following locations:
- Look at your local library: as many have language resources from infant to high school
- Interlibrary loan: use this to get language resources from other libraries in the area
- YouTube Channels: there are many channels designed for kids in a wide range of languages. There are even some designed for adults, but the ones for kids are more fun
- Music: Listen to music in the other language
- Children Stories and Fairy Tales: Listen to these in the other language. The more you do this, the more of the language the child will pick up
- Curriculums: Yes, there are even curriclums out there in a wide range of languages that are designed for toddlers and children
Remember, learning a language should be fun. It is a challenge. That does not need to take away the fun. Play games, watch videos, watch cartoons (yes, I used to watch cartoons in French with my son), and listen to music, and dance. Just because it is challenging, does not mean it has to be boring. So, get out there, take a chance and create some memories with your child, all while learning another language.
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I always wish I could find the time to learn ASL with my kids
My former roommate was hard of hearing. I ended up helping her teach ASL to many classes and eventually doing baby sign classes. Those were a lot of fun.