Best way to introduce a new language to a preschool child

[BertieBotts]

It looks like we're going to be moving to Germany in a few months' time. DP has just got a job there, and he'll be moving out in a couple of weeks, but we've decided that DS and I will stay here until he's settled, has found somewhere permanent to live, etc. None of us currently know any German although DP is getting lessons through the company.

DS is 3.8 and his language is very good. I was wondering what the best way is to start introducing him to German - what I've thought about so far is to get some DVDs of programmes he likes which have the German language option and let him watch those, and some books like the Usbourne First 1000 words in German one, perhaps. I saw some workbooks in WHSmith but they seemed to be aimed more at 5 year olds so might be a bit advanced for him.

I looked at the Muzzy courses but don't really have £145 to spend on it - it's bizarre that they don't sell each language separately. I suppose I could buy the lot and then sell the unwanted ones on ebay or something?

I would just throw him in at the deep end when he gets there- they pick up languages surprisingly quickly.

What Destrier said.

Especially at that age.

We did exactly this with ours. DS1 was just 4 when he started kindergarten here in Germany - 4 years later he is basically bilingual.

They don't start school til they're at least 6 - sometimes nearer 7 depending on bday so your DS will have plenty of time to learn german in an 'immersion setting' until he needs to learn formally.

DS2 was put in with a greater understanding of german - but he wasn't/isn't much of a talker. He's now 5 and in year 2 of 3 in kiga and is doing great.

DD1 goes in August - she'd 2.3 and understands some german and speaks a little so will see how she gets on.

DS1's german is better than mine....oops! We have german tv (though you can get sky/freeview if you want) as it helps with the learning - most of the kids stuff is the same so they can associate it with what they know.

Whereabouts in germany are you coming to?

It will be Karlsruhe :)

I just worry that if he goes straight from a nursery environment where everyone understands him and has for some time - he's been talking in sentences since 2 - he'll be totally thrown and it might be frightening for him to suddenly be in a different nursery type place but where nobody understands him. I know they don't start school until later, but I'm just thinking if he's talking to the kindergarten "teachers" or other children mainly.

I have tried to explain about different languages, but he doesn't really understand.

Usborne do some first german books which can be quite useful for learning vocab.

You'll find they learn quickly, though I'd say it took a good year for ds1 to be confident - now when he talks to his friends you wouldn't know he wasn't german.

Play is a fairly international language so he will manage - just try to give him a few basics first - my name is, I need the loo, please, thank you etc.

Communication and language are different. Teach him some basics 'thank you' and 'please can i use the toilet' and create a 'communication book' - often used with children with learning difficulties so pictures of things like the toilet, wellies, handwashing .............. basically anything he needs to be able to say to the teacher.

The first 1000 German words book will probably be of use in a couple of years time, once your son is fluent in German and you want to teach him how to write some words in English! That's how I use our first 1000 words in French for our 6 year old who goes to school in French and likes to teach herself to read in English at home.

Depending on where you are moving to in Germany, kindy is either free or very cheap I believe.

We're in NRW and pay about 300Euros a month for 35hours a week at kindergarten. Although next year for DS2 it will be free as it is pre-school year.

That's the most you can pay in our district in a state kindergarten. It's done on a sliding scale to do with income.

The next region along - Dusseldorf it's free.Get DHs work to tell you about some areas to look at for living where the schools are ok etc. You can also try www.toytowngermany.com for more info - an expat website for Germany.

You say you don't speak German either, so why not learn a bot together with him, e.g. counting to 10 up and down the stairs, sing it.

I started a bit of Spanish with mine (3 and 7) just by exaggerting simple interactions and repeating them lots by doing funny voices, singing etc.

Stuff like 'Would you like milk, juice, cheese? I would like ... Yes/No, please/thank you.

Just basic stuff and make a funny/teasing game out of it so you get lots of repetition in there.

By the time you have been in Germany a year your DS will be teaching you!

My almost 3 yo started in a totally Spanish speaking nursery without a word of Spanish though very fluent in English. Apparently she spoke to everyone in English for the first few weeks then one day, around 3 months later I went to pick her up and witnessed her bossing around the other children in fluent Spanish!

She's now 5 and totally bilingual. Actually she often corrects my pronunciation, and even translates for me when I can't find the word I'm looking for.

I'm a great fan of DVDs and childrens TV for language learning for both children and adults. I learned loads of Spanish that way. Our dcs will often watch their DVDs in a language they don't know, just for fun. They claim to understand every word of Dutch, German, Welsh, Japanese or whatever language option they have chosen.

They love languages!

Wait till you get there. I wouldn't worry about teaching him anything until he gets there. Once he hears everyone else speak a different language he'll know what this is about. He'll pick up the language in no time -- faster than you! Kids just have an amazing ability when it comes to that.