The advantages of learning a new language at a young age are enormous as the world has become increasingly globalized and bilingualism is now perhaps the most useful skill to ever exist. With so many language learning apps like Mondly, Memrise, Babbel and Rosetta Stone, online teachers on Italki, and so many other language tools, learning a new language has become easier, fun and convenient for your child. Research has shown that children who learn a new language have a better perception of life.
They’ll become more confident
Learning a foreign language is a great way to boost their self-esteem and develop self-confidence. It can be initially difficult to muster up the courage to speak in a foreign language, but once a child starts it and receives positive feedback from teachers and parents, it becomes easier for them to overcome that fear of communication gradually.
It Might Just Transform Their Life
A new language has the potential to completely transform their lives. The cognitive benefits of learning a language have a direct impact on a child’s academic achievement. Compared to those without an additional language, bilingual children have improved reading, writing, and math skills, and they generally score higher on standardized tests.
It will Nurture Their Curiosity, Cultural Sensitivity, Empathy, and Tolerance
Children who are exposed early to other languages display more positive attitudes to the cultures associated with those languages. The experience of learning a language introduces them to the world in ways they might otherwise have not experienced. As they will meet new people, they’ll begin to see the world from a different perspective. Knowing the native language opens them up to noticing the finer details of a culture. Contrary to popular belief, young children are not confused by the introduction of multiple languages at the same time. Not only do they naturally navigate multilingual environments, but acquiring a second language early in life primes the brain to learn multiple other languages, opening a world of opportunities for later on.
They’ll Have a Better Memory
Imagine your brain as a muscle, the more you use it, the better it works. When someone learns a new language, they exercise their brain. Studies have demonstrated the cognitive benefits of learning another language. Bilingual and multilingual children tend to have bigger brains, better memories, are more creative, better problem solvers, etc. This makes it easier for them to learn, well, anything.
Greater Opportunities for College and Careers
Colleges now places an increasingly high value on knowledge of more than one language. As the admissions process becomes more competitive across the board, knowing a second or a third language adds a new dimension to an applicant’s resume.
*Thus, to have another language is to possess a second soul. We are surrounded by language in the course of our entire lives. We use language to communicate our thoughts, feelings and emotions, to connect with others and identify with our culture, and to understand the world around us. Whether you are bilingual or this is your first experience with another language, your support will make a tremendous difference to your child’s success. You don’t have to be fluent in the language your child is learning in order to create an encouraging and active learning environment. Provide as many opportunities for authentic experiences as you can and be supportive.