Teaching Kids a Foreign Language: A Parent’s Guide

Let me first say that yes starting a child’s language education as early as possible is always ideal and the most beneficial. However, parents need to be educated and realistic about the options, priorities and their expectations. Too many parents think that it suffices to enroll their children in a 2 month or twice a week language program that lasts 45 minutes a class and expect their children to magically become fluent. If this is you I’m sorry to break your heart but it’s not going to happen. Unless you child is two and should be in Mensa then you probably have severely unrealistic expectations.

**Before I go any further let me share my list of most important To Do’s for every parent.

Be involved
Be Patient
Be Consistent
Be Proactive
Think Long term

So lets first address some of the common knowledge about kids and learning a foreign language. Yes kids learn very effectively and it helps to start your children at a young age. Why? Before the age of 12-15 kids brains are still creating their network of neurons and that means that instead of installing a new language next to the original they are creating parallel paths in their brains that, to them, all mean the same thing and have no distinct difference. So basically they are native. Now this is also if the kids truly grow up in a bilingual situation. So there has to be a certain level of exposure and commitment to the child’s language education.

Now lets talk about how parents can accomplish this goal and how those without the means to do so can still give their kids a meaningful and effective language education.

So here are the situations where kids can become naturally fluent in a foreign language. * there are always exceptions

One or more parents is a native speaker and only speaks to the in their language
Immersion school. The kids attend a foreign language only school where all subjects are taught in the target language.
Nanny time. If the parents can afford a nanny who is a native speaker of the language the child may not be native but will definitely have the necessary exposure and will do very well.

I know all of those options are very expensive. So for those families without the means or time to dedicate here are some alternative options that will still yield serious and positive results.

Private lessons. Though expensive they are less expensive than private school or a full time nanny. Kids will get one on one exposure to the language.
Play groups: Kids will get to learn the language the way they do best. Through play, imitation and subconscious learning.
Parent Time: Parents can learn the foreign language and in turn teach their children.
Bootstrapping: Do everything that you can that will expose your child to the language or culture.
1. Attend cultural events
2. Make friends that speak the language that have kids
3. Watch movies or cartoons in the language
4. Read them books in the language. Even "See spot run" is better than nothing.
5. Call in a favor from that distant relative abroad and send your kid to visit for the summer.

No matter what your child can learn a foreign language. This is a simple article to educate and dispel some of the common myths about childhood language acquisition.

If you would like to sign your child up for a children’s play group or private lessons just give Le Tutor a call. 480-626-5180

Written by Aaron Kuroiwa - Learn Spanish and English

4 Comments so far

Where do I begin.

I do not think the parent needs to be involved. All that matters is the motivation of the child. The parent’s involvement may or may not be motivating. A parent projecting his or her expectations onto a child would be a negative.

I should point out both my wife and I are multilingual. We tried very hard to encourage our children to learn other languages. We were unsuccessful until, in the case of one, he took an interest, at the age of 20. Oh, and my grandchildren are in French immersion in Vancouver, without any involvement from the parents, nor from me. Note that most kids in French immersion in Canada do not become fluent. Motivation is everything.

So avoid too many parent activities, and try to motivate the child. It does not really matter when the motivation occurs. Do not worry about when to start. There is no difference in outcomes in Canadian French immersion between those who start in grade on and those in late immersion. Again, it is all about motivation. It can happen when the child is 20.

Let your children watch TV in another language. Give them books and audio books in another language. If you have a grandparent who only speaks the language your child is learning, you are in luck. Do whatever you can to provide opportunities for the child to get motivated and to enjoy the language. Enjoyment will lead to motivation, and that is all it will take.

Steve,

Thanks for your thought out comment and example. Although I only partially agree I think you have some good points. I think that it depends on the families situation.

For example a immigrant family that wants to make sure their kids learn their native language and heritage. By speaking their language at home or at least with the kids then they will help maintain their heritage.

* That also opens another box of worms in terms of the parents integrating themselves, but that’s another post.

However, if the parents just want their kids to learn a foreign language for the sake of learning a foreign language it should be done wisely. It shouldn’t be an in your face you have to take lessons 3 days a week. However, the parents can make the experience fun and likely an activity that the kids would not recognize as learning.

You want kids to be allowed to be kids but sometimes you have to push them a little. You kids don’t want to go to school, take a bath or eat broccoli but we often make them anyway.

I think you are right to say that kids should have a say but that doesn’t mean the parents shouldn’t try.

It’s great that you have an interest in having children learn a language from a young age. The benefits are enormous.

I’m working on a marketing project with Scholastic to raise awareness about cultural diversity and language learning through a show on PBS Kids called Maya and Miguel. The reason I’m reaching out is to see if you’d like to receive a free copy of a Maya & Miguel on DVD.

If you’d like to receive the DVD, just email me at mark@boldmouth.com with your address and I’ll have it shipped out to you. If you do choose to get the Maya & Miguel DVD and decide to blog about, please make it clear how you received the DVD. Our goal is to be open and honest with everyone we reach.

All the best,
Mark Steidler

My sister has three children. The oldest 9, is fluent in four languages. My sister is fluent in three and her husband in four.

The second of the three, would only speak English and used limited words from the other languages around him.

In analyzing the differences between the educational experiences of both nephews, there was a significant difference. For whatever reason my sister and her husband used more English at home then they had previously.

While not imposing parental expectations on a child may be of benefit, the effect of parental habits is certainly of importance.

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Teaching Kids a Foreign Language: A Parent’s Guide

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