Benefits of learning languages for children

[AnaB1980]

Hi

I was looking for ideas for a new after-school activity for my 6yo and I came across this article about the benefits of learning languages from an early age (which I didn't know!).

Any mums out there whose children are learning languages and would like to share their insights? My boy is already doing sports but I thought a more academic activity like language lessons would do him good. Any advice much appreciated!

Indeed. My own memories of Germany involve lots of cake and beer and clock towers. All very pleasant. I think I have arrived at an understanding that some languages are best learnt in a formal school setting so it's a shame not to do them then - like Greek - while others might still be accessible to the tired adult brain. For me, it would have been a better decision to leave German till later.

DS native English speaker but fluent in Spanish due to living there from 10-18 and now studying French and German at UK Uni. He did think about Chinese but, rightly or wrongly, was warned off for the reasons already given.

He is currently working in Germany with the aim of improving his German but has landed up speaking as much, if not more Spanish than German as the company he is with is run by a Spaniard!

He is off to France teaching in September, close to the Spanish border so I'm guessing more Spanish speaking opportunities though the aim is towards fluency in French!

unless you speak French to degree level and want to work in a French-speaking country...

So, yes, somethingyesterday I had read previous posters.

Was your sarcastic by the way?

Perhaps I'll just stfu?

fussy if he decides he wants to learn Chinese he can always do an intensive post grad in china . Most of my friends who are reasonably fluent in mandarin ( albeit most cant write- only speak) learned by immersion or for love .

Does anyone have any good suggestions for podcast or music downloads that we could have in the car when travelling, and that would help DCs pick up a language?

I have various French ones that I listen to on my commute (e.g News in Slow French) but not ones which would be suitable for young children. We've got a fair bit of travelling over the next couple of weeks (France) and I quite like the idea of them listening to something (even subconsciously) that will give them a flavour for the rhythms of a language and some basic words.

I have an Alain le Lait CD but that's pretty limited as it doesn't really help the kids pick up French from scratch but relies on some language knowledge already.

Cheers

What age? Baby Boom Boom was good for mine from age 2. Still enjoys it at age 5. Available in various languages.

Boys aged 4 and 6.

As a Secondary Languages teacher I cannot emphasise the importance of starting a second language as early as possible, it helps with confidence levels and gives a fantastic chance to explore another culture in depth. Children who have a second language have an easier time in Secondary language lessons and when it comes to exams are less worried and enjoy themselves more.

Further on most universities look very favourably on students who have a language to at least GCSE, it shows a good grasp of reading, listening, speaking and writing - in another language!
Or simply it can be a great chance to meet new people :)

As an English person who went to school in Wales, and started learning Welsh as a five year old: yes, almost any language is good.

You learn how to make sounds which don't appear in English
You learn that other languages have different word orders. Why? Because they do.

Plus the stuff that gatita says.

To be honest I think knowing the three basic languages of the world is very important. I live and work in Hong Kong so I understand the need to be able to speak Pu Tong Hua (Mandarin). It is widely spoken amongst Asians in the Asia pacific region. It also helps when shopping on Regent street where you do get better service.

I would think a Latin derivative (Spanish, Portuguese or Italian) is important for anyone who has worked in the US will know that it is the second language. I worked in Atlanta and to be honest you need Spanish to be understood.

Obviously for non speakers of English it is very Important to learn the international language.

German...well to be honest they are probably better at English than the English...French ...basic French is a must but I find the French will revert to English if they know your French is not up to scratch. As for Japanese nice place to visit on holiday if your arent scared of the nuclear fallout. Then again most will speak Pu Tong Hua.

Really? I didn't know most Japanese speak Mandarin.

Could you tell me the name of the school please :)

I was surprised too...about Japanese speaking Mandarin....As Im a bit of a Philistine for not knowing Japanese....and I think her English was limited...she spoke to me in broken Pu Tong Hua...the message was conveyed and the sale was made.

It is absolutely not true that most Japanese speak Mandarin. The only similarity between the Japanese language and Mandarin is that Japanese use some the Mandarin characters (called kanji in Japanese). But the same character is pronounced completely different in Japanese and Mandarin respectively and can even have different meanings.

The only advantage that a Japanese person has in learning Mandarin is that they have seen these kanji characters and could learn to write more easily in Mandarin. But that's it.

There is, in my opinion, a lot more to be gained from language learning that simply fluency and future job prospects. Learning a language develops children's literacy skills, problem solving skills, thinking, grammatical ability, spoken skills. It helps them broaden their cultural knowledge and increase social understanding. All of these things are massively important. I say, who cares what language, get your kids learning!

Oh gatita said it better!

A Green Mouse French and Spanish listening practice is included in the mumsnet blogs. Has anybody tried it with their dcs? It is mentioned in this campaign to improve the state of languages in the UK:
www.speaktothefuture.org/

Pick the second language you speak best, or alternatively the foreign language culture to which you have most attachment and will visit most often. If you speak German, pick German. If you go to France every year, pick French. If you have relatives in Spain you can visit... well, you see where this is going. Pick a language they stand a real chance of learning to fluency. If it's a language you speak, all the better. Languages can be a boring slog (depending on your teachers) until you're suddenly surrounded by people speaking it... and realise that you can, too! Then they're the best thing ever.

Kids have an amazing ability to learn language when they are young. I didn't learn a second language until adult age and it was so hard. I think because I'm used to speaking at an adult level and it's embarrassing to speak a foreign language at such a low level.
DianaS

I actually went to learn Thai...

amazing country and fantastic people...

Zigster- Notes In Spanish podcasts are the bollocks They do elementary ones as well which dd is listening to.

Loads more on iTunes though- all free. Plenty for adults and children.

I absolutely, totally, 100% agree with "pick the language you like" school of thought.

If the affective dimension isn't there, you are never going to be good at it. Because you have to want it. Same as anything. So you can research which one is most useful for your child all you want, but if they don't feel the love it won't work.