| Remember those language learning labs in junior | | | | All four components are necessary for a |
| high school? Those labs with headsets where we | | | | well-rounded and fun language program. Always |
| were asked to listen and then repeat back to the | | | | keep in mind that you should not be required to |
| taped voice of the instructor? | | | | have second language experience or a teaching |
| That was absolutely one of the least effective | | | | degree to use these products you choose during |
| methods used to teach a second language! Not to | | | | your daily routine. |
| mention it was at a point in our lives when our | | | | 3) Repeat, repeat, repeat!!! Repetition is the key |
| brain was no longer capable of acquiring a new | | | | for all the learning that takes place with your child. |
| language easily. Combine those labs with | | | | Think back to how you learned to speak English. |
| workbooks and lots of verb conjugation and you | | | | Your parents pointed things out to you and said |
| have generations of students who came out of a | | | | the word for those items again and again in |
| system unable to speak a second language. | | | | English. |
| Today many of us realize the importance of | | | | Now, as a parent and a teacher, you can not only |
| raising our children to be bilingual. We ourselves | | | | provide the English word, but you can also begin |
| have been frustrated in certain situations to not | | | | to introduce the new language word for that |
| have a handle on any language other than our | | | | same item. Saying the words in both languages |
| native English. Whether we were passed over for | | | | side by side provides a point of reference for the |
| a job opportunity because we did not speak | | | | child and allows language acquisition to continue in |
| another language, or we missed a pay increase | | | | the native language while learning a new language. |
| because we had no bilingual skills or we simply | | | | This format is referred to as a bilingual format |
| found ourselves wishing we could communicate at | | | | and is one of the best methods to use with |
| an ethnic restaurant all of us have most likely | | | | young children ages birth through five. |
| wished for the fluency of another language. | | | | 4) Have fun and be patient! Try to never force |
| Many of us know that the secret to success is | | | | the new language learning on your child. Gently |
| introducing the new language early in life. The | | | | guide your child along this second language |
| most recent research suggests that between the | | | | journey. |
| ages of birth and five is the optimum time to | | | | Your child may not verbalize for months in the |
| begin the second language journey. What most of | | | | new language. Keep in mind that the brain of your |
| us do not know, however, is how to bring this | | | | child is processing all of this information, wiring it |
| language learning into our homes and our daily | | | | for later language learning. |
| lives. | | | | Show a high level of confidence yourself. Even if |
| Following are five key strategies for jump starting | | | | you do not speak the target language well you |
| the second language learning of your child: | | | | are the best teacher for your child. Surround |
| 1) Start the second language learning early. Did | | | | yourself with great tools to bring the learning to |
| you know that the most recent research | | | | life and then remember that smiling works |
| suggests starting at birth and really emphasizes | | | | wonders with kids! |
| the first five years of life as the most optimum | | | | 5) Show your child that you respect other |
| time to introduce languages to a child? A study | | | | cultures and value the ability to speak other |
| out of Texas states that five languages up until | | | | languages. Make a point to attend multi-cultural |
| the age of five can be learned simultaneously to | | | | events that bring to life the food, music, dance, |
| one child. | | | | arts and people of other cultures, reinforcing to |
| I personally encourage playing music CDs during | | | | your child that English is not the only language |
| pregnancy and then talking to your baby from | | | | important to their future travels in our global |
| the moment of birth in two or more languages if | | | | society and that the United States is only a small |
| possible. If you and your family speak only | | | | part of a big and beautiful world! |
| language then begin introducing a new language | | | | We are role models for our children. If you show |
| with bilingual music CDs and DVDs. | | | | that others are important to you and that you |
| 2) Look for a bilingual language learning series that | | | | value what they stand for and what they |
| provides you and your child with the following four | | | | represent, then your child will also show respect |
| components: visual cues (in the form of a DVD, | | | | for those people and the things important to |
| board book or language cards), music fun (in the | | | | them. |
| form of bilingual music CDs and/or DVDs with | | | | Giving your child the gift of a second language |
| music incorporated throughout the informal | | | | before elementary school is one of the most |
| language lessons), beginning reading (in the form | | | | wonderful gifts you could ever give him. Making |
| of board books, language cards and/or computer | | | | the language learning process easy on you as a |
| software/games) and verbal exchange (in the | | | | busy parent is one of the best things you can do |
| form of DVDs that prompt occasional responses | | | | for yourself. The tools are out there, you just |
| from your child, friends who speak the target | | | | need to do a little searching for that perfect fit |
| language and/or computer software that allows | | | | for you and your familia/family! |
| for verbal acquisition). | | | | |