How can I support my child in learning a second language?

Learning a second language is a challenging and difficult undertaking, but one with incredible rewards. In this guide, we will look at how you can support your child in learning a second language.

We often think of ‘fluency‘ as being the goal of language learning. Discovering other cultures, meeting new people, and having fun are just a few of the many reasons for taking the challenge!

Why learn a second language?

It’s never too late to start learning, but it’s a fact children and young people are much quicker to acquire new language skills. Children who begin learning before 10 years of age are much more likely to achieve what we might call ‘fluency’. The journey to learning a second language provides an invaluable chance to develop communication skills, cultural understanding, and cognitive abilities.

But how can you support our child in this difficult, long and often frustrating journey?

Six great ideas for learning a second language!

1. Make it fun: Using engaging and interactive tools can help make learning a second language more enjoyable for your child. Bright colors, sounds, pictures and child-friendly design all combine to create those vital neural connections, as well as engaging them and helping the time to fly by!
2. Practice consistently: Consistency is key to learning a new language. Encourage your child to practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the target language every day. Duolingo is the most popular language learning app that offers daily practice and a game-like interface. There are many others too and it’s best to use a mix if you can.
3. Use real-life situations: Practicing language skills in real-life situations can help your child apply what they have learned in a practical setting. Talk them through activities in the target language, encouraging them to help explain what they are doing. Use simple phrases to build vocabulary first. Model the language constantly and encourage them to mimic what you say.
4. Encourage language exchange: Language exchange programs and online communities can connect your child with native speakers to practice speaking and listening skills. italki is the one of the most popular language learning resources at the moment. Here you will find thousands of native and non-native teachers specialising in teaching children online. You can even find me there! You may also find face-to-face language exchanges in your local area.
5. Provide language resources: Books, dictionaries, and other language learning resources can help your child build their vocabulary and improve their language skills. Check out the reading resources and YouTube sections for a huge range of free-to-access online reading materials!
6. Be supportive: Learning a new language can be challenging, so provide positive feedback and celebrate your child’s progress along the way. Treats are nice, however it’s easy for children to associate hard work with rewards. We will be writing about the importance of intrinsic motivation soon. Learning, and the chance to learn, is the best reward we as adults can possibly give young people.

More ideas for second language learning

Hopefully these have given you some ideas on how to support your child in learning a second language. Maybe it has confirmed some of what you already knew. Learning another language can be a rewarding experience for both you and your child. By following these steps, you can help your child succeed in learning a new language and open up a world of possibilities.

Please feel free to get in touch for more information on this topic, or book a lesson with me on italki for 1-to-1 English language lessons.