Taking Advantage of the “Window of Opportunity”
Language Learning for Children
From that first miraculous moment that they begin to speak, toddlers exhibit an extraordinary ability to learn their first or native language. They request particular foods, bestow names upon favourite toys, and – of course! – eagerly call for mum and dad.
Most experts conclude that there are special language learning advantages in childhood. Others point to the higher level of proficiency and native accents achieved by those who learn a second language in the early years. Still others would say that the advantages that come from learning a second language early are lifelong gifts promoting communication, perspective and understanding. All in all, parents who have witnessed the joyful transition from baby babble to beginner speech will not be surprised to learn that most experts agree that earlier is better for language learning and second languages.
We at Early Advantage believe that childhood is a special “window of opportunity” to introduce new languages and experiences that foster an appreciation for other cultures and help develop a love of learning that lasts a lifetime.
Young Minds are Wired for Learning
Years of research have led many scientists and linguists to conclude that children’s brains are “wired” for learning. Every time the child experiences or observes something new, distinct neurological connections – much like electric circuits – are created within the brain. Connections are made between words and the things those words represent: objects, people, sensations and ideas. The brain’s ability to form new pathways and connections is known as “plasticity,” and studies have shown that children possess an amazing degree of plasticity. Their connections are constantly being made and modified.
Children love to mimic the sounds they hear around them. Even before they learn to speak, their prelingual babble often suggests an effort to recreate familiar sounds. From the earliest months, the first steps toward language learning involve listening to the words and syllables spoken by parents and other care providers. In this regard, the young brain operates like a sponge, absorbing a tremendous amount of information in a short period of time. Eventually, children are able to reproduce what they hear, and act upon what they observe. Associations between words and objects are made automatically, allowing for quick, natural acquisition of language. Yet when it comes to gaining true proficiency in a language, frequent exposure and repetition are required for the connections to remain strong.
Changes in Auditory Sensitivity with Age
Some scientists have suggested that with the onset of adolescence, children experience a gradual lessening of their ability to learn new languages as quickly and effortlessly. This has been attributed to changes in hormone levels, metabolism, and physiological developments, which result in lowered neurological plasticity. This assertion has not gone undebated. Of course, everyone agrees that this does not mean that teenagers and adults are incapable of learning a new language. After the age of 12, attaining fluency and a native accent in a new language simply becomes less likely.
It makes no difference if the child is learning French, Italian, Chinese or any other language. Experts have shown that a child’s brain begins accumulating language-related data long before the child has learnt to speak. In fact, from the age of six months, children can already distinguish between real words and nonsense words.
Very young children have a capacity for distinguishing between phonetic sounds across the full spectrum of spoken languages—a skill that most adults have long since lost. Adults often find it difficult to understand and reproduce sounds of foreign languages, because they can not “hear” them in the same manner. The precise reasoning for this development is unclear. Experts have discussed that this loss of phonetic sensitivity may be because the adult mind has been gradually wired to communicate solely within a particular linguistic system. These connections become deeply ingrained through years of use and are difficult to change. Children are not hampered in this regard. Their ears are sensitive to nuances, and their minds are still open, allowing them to process and reproduce a wide variety of sounds in their own speech.
Learning New Languages Young
There are many good reasons to encourage young children to learn a second—or third—language. The global community grows seemingly smaller and smaller every year, and children who are fluent in several languages will ultimately benefit by being able to overcome communication barriers. Study of a foreign language may also, in turn, heighten a child’s understanding of their own native tongue. Psychologists have suggested that learning more than one language early in life leads to “sharper thinking” overall, and better abilities in critical reasoning. Neuroscientists have also shown that learning multiple languages causes subtle physical changes in the brain, including increased density of “grey matter,” which has been linked to higher intelligence. This increase in grey matter appears to be proportional to the age at which second language instruction began, with greater effect experienced by individuals who begin learning a second language earlier in life.
Educators recommend that if a bilingual parent or care provider is present in the child’s life, that they consistently communicate with the child in the “target” language. Parents who speak only one language should not be discouraged. Even without a native foreign-language speaker in the household, your child can still begin learning a second language. Even a simple introduction to foreign language materials helps grow an appreciation for languages and other cultures. Regardless of what teaching methods are used, the most important way to make language learning effective is to make it a fun part of your child's everyday experiences.
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