In this day and age we live in a world which is far closer than it has ever been before. In light of this, learning a new language is a great way for people, and children in particular, to help themselves in understanding a wide range of new people, and new cultures. Learning a new language has been proven to make more connections in the brain than through the learning of any other subject and it can help people from both an intellectual point of view, and in terms of giving kids more opportunities in their lives. It is important to ask your children questions too, so you are both clear on how your child feels. A great resource written by Daniel Wong can be found here, which can be used for you to decide on what to ask your child and how to do it in the right way.
The key to helping kids learn a new language is to create some excitement around it and here are just some of the ways in which you can do exactly that with your kids.
HelloTalk is without question the best language learning app out there and instead of directly educating kids, it puts them in touch with people from other countries so that they can better learn the language. Kids can use this language exchange app to make friends across the world and they can learn at the same time. The app has many great features which allow users to correct those that they are speaking with and even send voice messages. The best way to get kids excited about learning a new language is to show them the benefits and with this app, they can do just that.
Why not try to tie your kids’ language learning in with a family vacation. For example you could take the kids to Mexico if they are learning Spanish and you can not only let them try out what they know, but also surround them by the language. The best way for someone to learn the language is through total emersion and if you take your kids on a vacation where they can practice, you can help them to get really excited about it.
Online Connections With Native Speakers
If you are willing to pay a little bit of money then you can get your kids some tutors online which can not only help them to improve how they speak the language, but also to get them excited about learning. Reading words on a page can mean very little to kids but allowing them to connect with someone in another language is something that will pay great dividends.
A great way that I have found to help my eldest with his French, is to have a pop quiz about daily items. For example, if we are in the kitchen, I will hold up a banana or a pack of ham and ask him how to say it in French. This is a really fun game which my child loves and it has really boosted his overall knowledge and vocabulary.
The key is to show your kids what the benefits of learning a new language will be, in order to get them excited about learning it. Do this and your kids will have a greater appreciation for the language, and be more excited about furthering their knowledge.