Raising a bilingual child is a wonderful gift, especially in a culturally diverse country like South Africa! But how do you approach teaching your little one a second language? Here are some expert tips from Savannah Senior, a Speech and Language Therapist at Clamber Club:
1. Start Early
Children are remarkably quick at picking up languages. The best time to introduce a new language is before they turn 3 or 4 years old. Research shows that the earlier a child is exposed to new sounds, the easier it is for them to learn to speak and understand different languages.
2. Avoid Mixing Languages
When teaching your child a new language, focus on one language at a time. Each language has its own unique grammar, pronunciation, and structure. Mixing languages can make it harder for your child to distinguish between them and learn properly.
3. Create Natural Learning Environments
Classroom-style lessons aren’t necessary for language learning. Children absorb languages more easily when they hear and use them in everyday activities and play. The more natural the environment, the faster they will pick up the language.
4. Consistency and Fluency Matter
For your child to truly master a language, regular exposure to fluent speakers is essential. Consistent interaction with a fluent speaker will help them learn proper pronunciation and language structure.
5. Embrace Mistakes
It’s perfectly normal for children to mix up words or sentence structures when learning multiple languages. Don’t make a fuss about it. Instead, gently correct them by repeating the sentence correctly, so they can learn and improve.
Let’s get talking!
Goodbye, Totsiens, Uhambe Kahle, Sala Hantle, Famba Kahle, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Tchau Tchau, Ciao Ciao…
We thank Savannah Senior of Clamber Club (previously of Clamber Club Toddlers – Dunkeld) for contributing to this article.
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