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New Year -
New Language - New Benefits for Your Child
Presented by Beth Butler/Creator of the
BOCA BETH
Program
Remember those language
learning labs in junior high school? Those labs with headsets, the
classrooms with written workbooks full of verb conjugation and a teacher
who followed a curriculum vs. her students' capabilities combined to
create absolutely the worst (and least) effective method used to teach a
second language. That is why those of us who took languages back in the
days of middle school being called junior high school remember just a
few choice words (and probably pronounce them incorrectly!).
Today, as parents and as educators, we know the importance of raising
our children to be bilingual. We see and experience this ever-shrinking
world of ours and encounter endless opportunities to test our own
bilingual skills. We know from recent research and the barrage of
studies thrown at us that the secret to success is introducing the new
language early in life. Why, even TIME and NEWSWEEK Magazines ran
feature articles on the window of opportunity to introduce a new
language is between birth and around the age of ten to twelve.
What most of us do not know, however, is how to bring this language
learning into our homes and our daily life. We struggle with the
question of how to find a language program designed for very young
children, will we need to have teaching experience or command of the new
language in order to make the learning successful in our home or our
classroom, and how can we incorporate the second language learning into
our daily routines?
As parents we need convenience in this new language program (we cannot
even find time to read a book some days so make this one fit our daily
life routine please!). Do not give us a manual that we have to read
through in order to help our child (we cannot even get the Sunday paper
read!). We desire a language program created by someone who really knows
children and really knows language learning (we really want something
that provides results and will not drop to the bottom of the toy box!).
And could someone please make it so we do not have to make monthly
installment payments to pay for the language learning program (we all
know how much we spend in the first year of life!).
Parents and educators use the internet more and more to research many
things prior to buying. Try this approach when looking for a language
program for your child. Use your favorite search engine prompting
keywords you might find in the title of this future learning tool for
your child (teach Spanish to child, bilingual DVD, French music CD for
child). Then look for language programs that include visual learning
(68% of the population learns visually), learning with music (what child
do you know who does not love music!), beginning reading in the new
language (subtitles in the DVD, language cards or board books are great
tools) and some type of verbal exchange (even if it involves prompting
the child to speak back to the TV on occasion).
Make certain you are allowed to sample the components of the new
language program on the internet. Most programs allow you to see video
clips and/or hear parts of their songs. Look for a true bilingual method
of teaching for any child who falls between the ages of birth through
ten. Seamless transition from the native language to the new language is
crucial during the first five years of life. Many experts agree that
while the child is still acquiring skills in his native language you
should be introducing the new language alongside the native one. Hearing
only the new, targeted language for a long period of time with no point
of reference will not work as well with children before the age of five.
Make sure the language learning program is affordable and is truly
integrated with several components (not just a video you play over and
over or one CD you listen to time and again). The program should create
a multi-media classroom for your child for his certain ways of learning,
moods and methods of acquiring new information. Look for bright colors,
captivating scenes, easy-to-understand lyrics in the songs and a simple,
engaging presentation that brings the two languages together for your
little one.
Does the company offer support services? Is there a toll free number to
call with live people who really know the language program (or is it
just a call center)? Do they value their customers by offering things
such as a resource newsletter, access to additional teaching ideas via
their web site and follow-up contact? Have families tried these
products, and what testimonials are provided to hear their feedback? How
long has the company been offering these language learning tools, and
how are the creators/owners professionally connected with the early
childhood education field?
All of the factors mentioned in this article combine to provide a great
start to what could prove to be a lifetime of language skills for your
child. Remember, even if you choose Spanish today for your child and she
chooses French later in life, you have given her the head start on
connecting the neural pathways for language learning. Resolving to give
your baby, toddler or preschooler a head start this year on becoming
bilingual should be top on your list of New Year's Resolutions for both
you and your family.
About the Author:
Beth Butler is the creator of the BOCA BETH Language Learning Series for
young children. Find out how fun and easy it can be to raise a bilingual
child. Sample the BOCA BETH bilingual music and movies for free at
http://www.bocabeth.com
Call toll free 1.877.825.2622 or 1.813.244.1432 |
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