Most people understand that learning a foreign language is a great thing, especially for developing brains. Still, have you ever really dug into the whys and hows of learning a second language for children? When you get a closer look at all of the benefits, you’ll realize that second language acquisition goes even deeper than you thought it did.
Children Learning a Second Language
Learning a second language is not easy and it takes time and effort to master effectively. A second language requires the speaker to know two sets of words and their meanings instead of just one. Also, second languages can help children interact with others from other parts of the world since they speak similar native languages. Second language learning can also help children to express themselves better in terms of studying, creativity, and verbal abilities.
Organic Learning
Think back to your high school days. Remember learning from charts and rote memorization in your foreign language classes? How well did that work out? For many people, the bilingual experience comes with a lot of struggle. At a young age, kids don’t learn a new language by the older teaching methods. Younger children are specifically designed, you have to teach organically at an early age. New research shows you teach children to play with new vocabulary, repeat sentences, and absorb contexts. With children, the goal is fun and conversation. Unlike adults, they don’t worry about grammar mistakes. As a result, they learn their second language much easier than adults do.
Furthermore, since your child’s brain is still growing and developing, now is the perfect time to look into language development for them. Their brain will store all of the new information much more easily than an older learner would.
Overall Brain Boost
Speaking of developing brains, a second language for children can do wonders for critical thinking skills. When your child learns two languages, they’ll engage several parts of their brain at the same time. As a result, your toddler can grow up with increased creativity, problem-solving skills, and overall flexibility.
Academic Success
Of course, that brain boost will get carried into their academic lives, too. Again, think about your high school language classes. As your child gets older, language classes don’t need to be a struggle. If you give them a solid foundation for language learning in preschool, they can succeed in their high school language courses without feeling lost amongst their monolingual peers. Also, a firm grasp of foreign language sounds can help your child with test-taking and other school challenges. Think about the SAT, for example. When your child gets old enough to take that test, having another language under their belt can help them with the vocabulary portion. If they notice similar roots between their second language and the words on the exam, they’ll be able to make educated choices based on context.
Cultural Opportunities
Translations are fine, but why should you always rely on the translation? What if your child could explore some more original sources? Bilingual children can open up a world of cultural opportunities. Whatever your child’s interests may be, they can explore how other cultures handle those interests. For example, if your bilingual child enjoys writing, they can explore some of the writings of their second language. This way, they’ll gain a fresh perspective and a deeper appreciation of their interests.
Human Connection
Last and most importantly, a second language for children gives little ones an early chance to connect with others. A new language opens up a world of possibilities for friendship, travel, and a deeper understanding of other people’s cultures and traditions.
Educational Benefits of Learning a Second Language at Early Age
Students who study a foreign language do considerably better on a variety of other popular test forms than those who take the most frequent language courses such as the SAT. According to the researchers, there was a greater amount of gray matter in Bilingual children’s brains. Children apply what they learn in one language to support ideas and terms they have encountered in the other. It is becoming increasingly essential for students to understand several linguistic areas at institutions today. The ability to interact with senior family members helps individuals learn more about their nationality, culture, or heritage. Second languages may help your child and family in numerous ways. However, second language learning may be a difficult process.
Further foreign language learning includes the following many benefits:
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Promoting cognitive development is among second language educational benefits. Since new languages require various cognitive benefits like comprehension, memory, and reasoning; these skills are improved upon through second languages.
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Enhances a child’s general academic performance. According to a study, very young children that are dual language learners surpass native speakers in academic subjects such as mathematics and reading comprehension. This is because second languages require the learner to process information from different angles simultaneously. This means that second language learners can quickly assimilate new information into their memories leading to better academic performance.
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Increases the brain’s capability to handle knowledge. Learning more than one language at an early age will help young children develop a strong and healthy human brain, boosting their cognitive ability according to certain research.
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Young children who are fortunate to learn a second language while still learning their first language, develop better communication skills than those without such exposure. Even at young ages, children can improve on their grammar, understanding, and pronunciation of second languages through early exposure.
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Young children who learn foreign languages are able to explore different cultures around the world in a different view. This can help them to understand other people’s beliefs and traditions better. This has helped family members connect with one another since they relate on a common ground due to their language skills.
Second Language for Children
Looking for second language options for your child? Wondering how to get started? Let Legacy Academy help. At Legacy Academy, our curriculum lets children learn the basics of other languages. At our Berkeley Lake location, children can choose from Spanish and Chinese Mandarin. Ready to see your child gain the excitement of learning a second language? Start by contacting Legacy Academy. Contact us today to schedule your free school tour. We know that you want the best for your child. That’s why we do everything that we can do to help them thrive.
