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| Benefits of learning a Second Language through fun and play |
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| Author : Aline Shand
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| Created : 21 Mar 2004
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| Last Revision : 21 Mar 2004
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“Exposing your Child to a new world of words boosts her brainpower, vocabulary and self-esteem” Lynne S. Dumas
For years it has been thought that teaching a second language to preschool age children would be a waste of time, money and resources. This has changed in the recent years as more and more research has been completed on bilingual children. Following are some important reasons for exposing children to early second language learning.
“Preschool Years are vital Years
“During this period and especially the first eight years of life, the foundations for thinking, language, vision, attitudes, aptitudes and other characteristics are laid down” says Ronald Kotulak, author of “Inside the Brain”.
Brain Formation.
During the first 8 months a baby brain builds a large number of brain connections, up to a billion a second (Kotulak, 1996). By the age of 8 months they number 1000 trillion and start to decline rapidly unless the child is exposed to stimulation. This results in a dwindling number of connections that have reduced to roughly 500 Trillion by the age of 10. It is during these 10 years that the foundation for thinking, language, vision, attitudes, aptitudes and other characteristics are laid down. It is also during this period that a child will lose the ability to speak in languages that he or she does not hear. In the first 12 years the brain is a supper sponge and once the development is complete the window closes and any further learning has to be gained through long and hard traditional learning(Kotulak,1996).
According to Dr Harry Chugani, a Detroit Pediatric Neurologist, foreign language teaching should begin when children are in preschool, when teachers can maximize a child’s willingness and ability to learn.
“Learning a second language or third….
The success of foreign language learning during preschool can be found in Swedish nurseries. In these schools you will find 3 year olds speaking three different languages fluently (Dryden & Vos, 1997). In fact Sweden has one of the highest literacy rates in the world. The languages have been learnt through stimulation and play before the children are able to read.
Overall performance
Research carried out during the last few years has shown that learning a second language enhances children’s overall mental development. This results in increased language skills, higher self-esteem, thinking and reasoning skills, math’s ability, earlier reading and better cultural understanding.
Math’s: a second language increases the ability to solve complex problems (partial evidence as research is underway)
English: a second language increases the vocabulary available to a child. This results in both languages reinforcing each other, giving the bilingual child an edge over their mono-linguistic contemporaries. Children can learn much about English by learning structures and words in other languages.
Reading: there is evidence that the double exposure to language has resulted in children reading (Gail Rosenblum).
Personality
Improved self-esteem is one more by product of early foreign language instruction. Young children feel good about having this new competence. Also, because of the extra stimulation, young bilingual children find it much easier to learn other subjects as the foundation for learning is there.
Bilingual children have a better understanding of our multi-cultural world, which is a definite advantage in this time of high tech high skilled jobs. In other words they are better equipped for competing in tomorrow’s job market.
To give your child the opportunity to learn another language contact:
Gisela Purcell , ph 03 5452442, [email protected] or check out our website www.funlanguages.co.nz
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