Many parents wonder how they can make teaching foreign languages to kids more simple. Today we will answer this question, how one can ease children into learning, as well as motivate and interest them along the way.
If you are reading our article, you must have faced difficulties while teaching foreign languages to your child. Do you think it’s hard to get kids to learn something new? On the contrary – all kids innately are wonderful students. Yet, sometimes even the most experienced parents cannot find the right approach. Let’s take a look at some time-tested ways you can set your child on the correct path when it comes to studying foreign languages.
8 Tips for Teaching Foreign Languages to Kids
1. Choose a good teacher
A kid’s attitude towards learning strongly depends on the teacher’s personality. If you want your child to take lessons with a a tuition agency, choose a teacher who loves children and has experience working with them. After a few sessions, be sure to ask your child if he or she likes the teacher and the activities they explore.
A good specialist can make all the difference. If your language knowledge is not sufficient, but you need professional translation done, a good localization translation service might be just what you need.
2. Use interesting teaching methods
Children hate being bored, but they usually love to sing, dance, or paint. It is wise to use this notion when trying to motivate their studying. Also, if your child is hyperactive and has difficulties with traditional learning methods, try a new approach. Being active while studying can be both fun and very resultative. Children who like drawing can sketch new words – this develops imagination and makes memorization easier.
3. Add a gaming aspect
Make learning fun. You can use computer games when teaching your kid new languages. If available, use educational games or specially designed programs that have a gaming aspect. You can find tons of such applications online. They are great for quickly mastering new vocabulary.
4. Choose good study materials
Teaching doesn’t have to be boring. Modern bookstores , huge educational databases, such as Studocu or online retailers sell great innovative textbooks for children, which present information in an easy, entertaining way, and often are well-illustrated, unlike some older study materials. Such books can be used as a main textbook or an additional resource for homework.
5. Personalize your topics
Speaking about studying materials, children are often offered the same topics and stories that they have seen, heard, and read dozens of times by now. Needless to say, very few children are interested in such information. They usually prefer learning something new. Try finding exciting videos, articles, podcasts, etc. that are new to the child and feature the topic they are genuinely curious about.
6. Change between different activities
Usually, children have shorter attention spans than adults, so they can quickly get tired of the same type of activity. Therefore, it is advisable to switch activities every 10-20 minutes to keep the child fully engaged. For example: watch a cartoon for 15 minutes, then discuss it for 10 minutes, then read a fairy tale or article for 15 minutes, retell it during the following 10 minutes, etc.
7. Encourage feedback
Trying a new technique? Ask your student what they think about the method you chose, what they like and dislike, and what they would adjust. Kids are often hesitant to speak up, but if you encourage them and account for their opinion, they will be genuinely grateful.
8. Learn together
This is a tip for those parents who have some extra time and courage to become a student one more time. You can set a good example by studying along, refreshing your knowledge as you go. Having a learning partner always makes studying more fun and allows you to practice together. If you can’t spare the time, get your kid a study buddy from within their friend circle.
Onward to Knowledge!
We hope that our article got you thinking and revealed some new tactics you can utilize when teaching your kid foreign languages. It takes some outside-the-box thinking, but you can change the process of learning languages from a boring routine into a fun and productive pastime your kids will enjoy.
BIO:
Merissa is a talented author who loves giving back to the community, utilizing her expertise and notions accumulated over the years of working as an educator and researcher. Her approach to writing includes treating the audience as friends and bringing them concentrated value. Merissa loves her community and takes great inspiration from her readers who request many fun topics for her to explore. Her hobbies include painting and gardening.
