Every parents’ goal is to help their children learn as many useful skills and grasp as much important knowledge growing up. Making the most of their sponge-like information-absorbable brain during young age will certainly determine their life path and how they perform as students and one day as professionals.
One important thing that has been up for a debate over the past several decades is the importance of learning two or more different languages during early infancy. Some studies suggest that children will get confused and this will delay language skills development. However, lately, the completely opposite is being proven with a lot of research and real-life examples.
Children that are raised in bilingual families or taught two or more different languages at a young age have different brain development. These differences result in many advantages that emerge from extraordinary cognitive skills compared to their monolingual peers.
When and Where to Start?
If your child is monolingual, meaning speaking only one language, you would like them to start learning a new language as soon as possible. Science says, the sooner the better. Today it’s easier than ever to present them with proper tools and media to get them started and progress fast.
Online platforms such as Live Lingua, offer one-on-one tutoring that might be a great choice. Many parents decide to learn the language themselves and then teach their child, moreover, using online platforms you can learn together or you can leave your child to learn independently. Remember, children have superpowers they learn fast and do not forget!
Other common options parents choose are hiring a baby sitter that speaks a foreign language. Moreover, you can also enroll your child in daycares that educate preschool children using a foreign language.
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The Advantages of the Bilingual Brain
Children that are raised in bilingual families and thereby speak two languages fluently are referred to as bilinguals. Moreover, they are native speakers in both languages they have learned since birth. Their brain development is different, science says, and they enjoy many advantages. Moreover, every child that learns and becomes fluent in two or more languages will develop same brain capacity.
Here are some of the main advantages and reasons why you should allow your child to learn a foreign language.
Excellent Academic Performance
Children that are able to fluently speak two or more languages have predispositions to become fast learners. Moreover, learning comes easily and naturally to them as their brain is adapted to grasping a lot of information that is processed and “stored” conveniently. This results in better attention in class and good long-term memory which helps them learn fast. Furthermore, this amplifies their desire to learn and improve, making them even better students from the beginning and up until college years.
Great Multitasker
Shaped cognitive skills from all the bouncing back and forth between languages also implicate in other areas of brain activity in bilinguals. Therefore, bilingual and multilingual children become great multitaskers. This is a great advantage for many professional pursuits the child may have in the future, not to mention how much it will help them in the learning process and getting easier through everyday life.
Better Social Skills
Every parent wants their child to be accepted and loved by everyone. One thing that might make this possible is your child’s bilingual brain. Moreover, children that are proficient in languages are stated to have better self-confidence. They understand the world as a diverse place and accept changes and differences. Not only that a bilingual child will have great social skills, but it will also make friends easily. Due to their awareness and different perception towards people that results in better awareness of circumstances, bilingual children are less likely to have a problem with socialization once they enroll in school.
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Improved Linguistics Skills
Children let their brains do the amazing work in learning separate languages without consciously interfering with the process as an adult would. In simple words, this is the main reason why your children will learn a foreign language faster than you. However, if a child is exposed to learning two or more different languages at an early age it is possible to use the same learning concept as an adult. This concept helps a person learn rather intuitively by picking up the new words, connecting and associating with words to make a full sentence, rather than constantly translating to the native langue in order to comprehend. Several studies confirm that bilinguals learn foreing languages faster at any stage of life.
Promises Better Life Opportunities
Taking all of the benefits mentioned above, a bilingual brain is a great start towards achieving great things in life. Speaking two or more languages solely makes a great advantage in finding the best study and job opportunities. Moreover, all the other skills that come as a result of a bilingual brain surely promise a bright and interesting future.
For what it’s worth, a child that is given a proper chance to learn a second language never fails to become fluent.
