In recent years, children are lucky to be provided with the opportunity to learn a second and even third language at school. It’s a great way for them to become more familiar with different cultures, but doesn’t always come naturally to every child. Below, a private senior school explores how important it is for parents to encourage their children when they’re learning a new language and help them as best they can so that they don’t give up.
Although you might not be able to speak the language yourself, you can still be of assistance to your child. Help them by finding foreign movies that you can watch together with English subtitles. You can also download some foreign songs so that you can listen in the car on the way to school. If either of you don’t know what the lyrics mean, you can look for the translation on the internet, which will help your son or daughter advance their vocabulary.
Flashcards are a highly effective way to learn a language. Go through them with your child and introduce new ones each week until they perfect the vocabulary. You could even stick them up around the house to label household items, which might help your child remember them. Another idea is to invest in some bilingual books for your child, which are easily accessible on the internet if you can’t find any in store.
Generally speaking, the best thing you can do to help your child learn a new language is be consistent with the practise; it’s better to learn small amounts each day until the vocabulary and sentence are retained, rather than spending hours practising once a week. For more information and additional resources, it’s worth speaking to your child’s teacher. They will be able to share information on the lesson content so that you can reiterate it at home.