Introducing Multiple Languages

This lesson is designed to teach parents how to introduce bilingual or multilingual languages to their children aged 3-6 years (kindergarten).

Why is Learning Another Language Important for the Child?

It allows children to relate and interact with people from different cultures.
It helps children develop a healthy brain and provides a lifetime of cognitive and social benefits.
It boosts problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening skills and also improves memory, concentration, and multitasking ability.
Children who are proficient in other languages also exhibit enhanced creativity and mental flexibility.
Exposure to other languages at a young age leads to a more positive attitude towards the cultures associated with the languages.

Tips for Introducing Bilingual or Multilingual Education

One person, one language (OPOL) – introduce one language at a time when communicating with the child. Let’s say while introducing two languages English and Spanish, let one parent speak in Spanish with the child and the other in English.
Allocate a time for the language – children pick up languages very quickly. Make sure to speak in only that particular language during the allocated time.
Don’t use more than one language at a time – Reply to children in the language you want them to learn. Do not mix different languages.
Use appropriate terms associated with the preferred language only. Do not jinx.
Access to Supporting material – The brain recognizes and associates patterns in words. Make sure the child has access to various books in the language being taught at a specific time.

Invite the child to watch the video and help them learn more than one language. There are many language-learning activities that you can do at home that can significantly help the child’s proficiency in multiple languages.

For more language resources, visit: https://theglobalmontessorinetwork.org/language-lessons/.

Video created by Aishwarya | I teach I learn

This video has been added and used with the author’s permission. It is also available on the author’s YouTube, here.