FAQ
Why is it so important to start learning a foreign language as early as possible?
Will learning a second language interfere with my child's ability to learn English? What if we [parents] don't know a foreign language to teach our child? Q. Why is it so important to start learning a foreign language as early as possible? A. "The process of learning a language begins with how the brain is structured. When brain cells communicate or connect over and over, the connections become "hard-wired." The connections that are not used eventually die or fade away. This is why there are "critical periods" or "windows of opportunity" for learning languages. The critical period for foreign language is 0-10 years old. Children have the capacity to develop new language more naturally than adults. "The power to learn language is so great in the young child that it doesn't seem to matter how many languages you throw their way." Q. Will learning a second language interfere with my child's ability to learn English? A. Learning another language enhances a child's English ability. Children can also learn more about English by learning the structure of other languages. Common vocabulary also helps children learn the meaning of new words in English. Q. What if we [parents] don't know a foreign language to teach our child? A. Parents do not have to be native speakers or know a foreign language to teach it to their children. There are many ways to increase children's exposure to a foreign language; bilingual television, songs, bilingual preschool, books, bilingual toys, and playgroups with children who speak the foreign language. |
