There are numerous benefits to teaching children Spanish. Not only are children able to very easily learn and retain a second language, but they are more likely to know it for life, it will enhance their language abilities in their first language, and bilingual children have proven to score much higher on standardized tests. But how do you go about teaching a child Spanish?
First you need to consider how your child learned his or her first language. They didn't go through any kind of formal training -- you just spoke to them in the language, and by age two, they were conversational! This is because the human brain is designed to adapt when immersed in a language like that, and it was able to pick up the words and meanings and make the child fluent.
The second language should be no different, especially for children. Find ways to immerse them in the language and they will pick it up very, very quickly!
I like to play word games with my children. I use computer software that scores them on their ability to memorize and retain words. You can just as easily use physical flash cards, though, and score your kids manually. Either way, help them learn Spanish words by making a game of it!
Spanish grammar is luckily even easier to learn than English grammar. What's the best way for children to learn Spanish grammar, though? This is where language immersion is most helpful. If you know some Spanish, simply speak to your children in Spanish! Every once in a while, say "Puedes ayudarme?" rather than "Can you help me?" This form of "light" immersion will help them pick up basic sentence structure, verb conjugation, and more.
Teaching children Spanish is one of the best gifts any parent can give their child for the benefits listed above. Go about it the right way and your child will excel!
The top-performing students in American schools today are bilingual. Find out for FREE how to get your child on the same path to success learning Spanish. |
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