How to teach children another second language

How to teach children another language 

1. Get fairy tales or story book in the language you want to teach them

Children love shared reading time and regardless of language acquisition. They will always remember the time they spend with you reading books. Try to find books with good illustrations. Look at the pictures with your child, point to things and they already know in the language.

2. Use Puppets Or Turn Your Child Favorite Toy Into A Puppet

As you come across new words and ask your child what they think it is. If it is illustrated, have them point it out on the page. Use different voices for different characters. If your child has a favourite character, encourage him/her to play different characters making up the words from memory. Help your child to use his/her imagination to change the story or change the ending.

3. Go to the zoo and call the name of the animals together using the language they learned

If you have any, look at some animal books together, then go to the zoo for the day. Ask your child the names of the animals he/she has learned and point out the new ones. This is a great place to add in adjectives and colors. When you come home, encourage your child to draw pictures of what he/she saw and talk about them using the language.

4. Play hide and seek by counting in the language

Hide and seek is a great game for practicing numbers.You could start with 1 to 10 and gradually increase. When you child knows them well you could count down backward. When seeking your child it’s a good opportunity to repeat words without it sounding repetitive.

5. Play board games e.g: snake and laddes, board games, family games.

Dice games are always good for counting and also a simple addition. Board games played with the whole family can be a time for relaxed learning. Just playing a simple board game such as snakes and ladders teaches a young child so much more than just language. They also learn rules of play, understanding goals and of course, that family games equal FUN.

6. Play games by using flashcard games e.g. Go Fish, memory game.

Flashcards are one of your most valuable resources in teaching language to young children. With multiples of the same cards, you can play well-known games such as Go Fish or the memory game.Very small children may struggle to hold too many cards, so play games that have the child match one card to another. Match up a sound with a picture, or two cards that have the same sound, or two pictures that match, any way you choose. Lay cards out on the floor or table and have your child touch the cards as you call out words/sounds. Encourage your child to be the caller and you touch the cards. Keep it playful and fun.

7. Have a progress chart that tracks the word s and phrases your child mastered

A simple progress chart teaches your child goals and kids love stickers. Let your child know when he/she is approaching a goals, be excited to get the stickers out. Praise him/her for their achievement with a great job, a hug or a high five (or all three)

8. Listen to children songs in the language together or reward your child for memorizing a short one

Listen to children song in a second language whenever and wherever you can. Keep CDs in the car or put CD on quitely in the background when you are doing something else. Add action to the songs, this help kids remeber the words.

9.Listen to pop songs or reward your child for memorizing a short one.

Teach your child some catchy pop songs that you both like.Something with suitable lyric and good chorus is easiest to remember. Sing it around the house as you do other things when your child tries to join in, model the language, and encourage them to sing with you.

10.Find cartoons in the second laguage in the youtube or Amazon

Cartoons are great way to engage kids in the second language. Kids can figure out story visually without worrying about not understanding every word. Let the child guide you which cartoon they like best. Watch them together and you will know which language to reinforce.

11. Have an monthly or annual checklist

Make a checklist or goals or ideas of where you want to be with the language learning over a year. Break it down into monthly mini goals.

12. Create youtube playlist or find playlist suitable for your child level

Youtube is a super resource. You can create a playlist of language teaching videos. These days people post everything from all over the world. They might be short videos or tutorials or craft ideas into your language learning or childrens song you can sing together. Look for playlist already put together by others with the same goal