Parents and teachers today are increasingly conscious of the need to raise their children to be bilingual. They have witnessed an ever growing need for acquiring new languages and mastering the awareness of other cultures. Preparing our young young children of today for the world of tomorrow just isn’t only our responsibility but our immediate task at hand. Professionals continually report, the earlier the better when it comes to introducing a second language to youngsters ages birth by means of ten.
Why is this age so ripe for the language learning? In the course of the 1st five years of life a young kid is less self conscious about any possible mistakes made while practicing a new found language. In fact, one of the reasons why young young children are so successful in picking up the new sounds of a new language is because they are less inhibited when it comes to trying the new language on for size when compared to older young children and adults. One of the greatest things realized here is that native and near native pronunciation is one of the positive side effects enjoyed when young children learn a second language this early in life.
Research pours in demonstrating the numerous benefits derived from second and third and fourth language learning early in life. The first of which is directly connected with Prepared to Read, Ready to Learn, Born to Read along with other education initiatives that promote early reading skills. Did you realize that young children who are being introduced to a second language throughout the first five years of life will exhibit advanced reading skills when compared to monolingual peers? Dr. Ellen Bialystok of York University and her team of research authorities have conducted numerous studies on kid language acquisition. Their studies show time and time again that the kids who receive instruction in two languages score twice as high on language tests than their monolingual peers. These bilingual youngsters also read sooner according to the published reports. (Dr Ellen Bialystok, 2001)
As a teacher, it truly is simple to understand the reasoning as to why this happens. If a kid is learning English in their home, and the parents begin to add Spanish vocabulary words and phrases into the daily routine of that kid by placing the new language right alongside the native language, the child then begins to decode the two languages simultaneously. Experts advise that it’s just as simple for a baby, toddler and preschool age child to learn two words for one item as it is to learn only one word. There is no confusion on the portion of the child. There will probably be no language delay. There will simply be the additional vocabulary words added to the list that the child is able to master as he begins to verbalize his understanding of the world around him.
The use of bilingual DVDs, CDs, and books that introduce the new language in a true bilingual presentation are highly suggested by professionals within the fields of linguistics and early childhood development. Immersion can perform, but latest findings suggest that the bilingual method, one where the native language is placed right alongside the new language, provides for higher level of self confidence, better language acquisition and understanding, and increased long term retention. A lot of specialists advise saving immersion methods for the later elementary school years and into middle and high school when most kids have mastered the majority of their native language skills.
Standardized tests have become a way to measure the achievement of our young children and their level of learning, from elementary school all the way via college. A 2002 study out of Miami-Dade County public schools reported that kids receiving instruction in both Spanish and English scored 23-34 points higher within the verbal and math sections on standardized tests. (Dr.Joanne Urratia, 2002) Being conscious of this benefit derived from second language learning really should be adequate of a motivation for school systems nationwide to start early language learning in the preschool and elementary school level. Now, do not chuckle. I know that with budget cuts and lack of funding for even decent salaries, our kids will never see this happen.
That is why it truly is up to us as parents and teachers to use this information about the best way to bring second language learning into the lives of our young children, and make it happen immediately. Don’t worry if you yourself do not speak a second language. As Drs. Kendall King and Alison Mackey tell us in their book titled The Bilingual Edge (2007), the crucial will be the ability of the parent or teacher to interact using the child using the second language. They inform us too that the critical piece does not rest on you having perfect pronunciation and native accent. Children learn their native language and new language in spite of grammatical errors you might make or imperfect speech that might be directed their way.
A bilingual kid typically enjoys the titles of great communicator and excellent problem solver. These coveted titles cover the last of the top three benefits of learning a second language early in life. It seems quite logical that a young child, who is getting introduced to a second language throughout the years when his brain is experiencing amazing developmental growth, will in turn develop excellent communication skills. If you heard but forgot or perhaps never heard this statistic at all, it truly is an important one: At birth 25% of your brain is developed and by age five 90% of your brain is developed. Due to the component of the brain getting used to acquire these language skills, the bilingual kid becomes skillful in problem solving. I am particular you would agree that these two titles can assist a person on their journey of life.
Let us start the job at hand today. Allow your child to knowledge the gift of learning a second language employing true bilingual methods and products. Then enjoy watching your child delight in the several benefits derived from an early introduction to new languages. Who knows, maybe your kid will likely be reading you your excellent night story soon.
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