What If I Want My Child to
Speak a Second Language, But I Speak Only One?
Parents are often amazed by the ease and openness their children display toward learning a new language. Children are less anxious and less self-conscious, so they see and interact with a new language as an extension of the activities they already love - making up words, rhyming, trying out new sounds and creating imaginary friends.
In addition to being less anxious and more adventurous, children also possess a surprisingly skillful capacity for imitation. And parents are well aware of this. Many parents make an extra effort to present a good example - saying "please" and "thank you" more conscientiously, for instance - in the hope that their kids will adopt this habit themselves.
Some parents worry, though, that this eagerness to imitate will make teaching their children a second language more difficult. Even parents with quite good conversational skills in a second language express concern that a shaky accent or a vocabulary deficiency will prevent their child from blooming as a strong and confident speaker.
Thankfully, that is simply not the case. Even if your second language vocabulary consists of only a hesitant "bonjour" or a tentative "danke," every parent can and should take an active role in helping their child grow into a new language. Continue Reading.
Sincerely,
Katie Lagana
Early Advantage |