5 Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language as a Child
Learning a foreign language at a young age has many advantages that have a positive impact on a child’s development. The openness and flexibility of children’s brains allow them to quickly assimilate new information and form skills of communication in a foreign language. In this article, let’s look at the five main benefits that a child gains from learning a foreign language at a young age.
1. Ease and adaptability
Children take in new information with great openness and willingness to experiment. It is during childhood that the brain is in a stage of intensive development, which makes it particularly amenable to learning a foreign language. Children easily adapt to a new culture and mentality, assimilate language features and become more intelligent and open-minded.
2. Improved cognitive skills
Learning a foreign language requires a child to use various cognitive skills such as memory, attention, logical thinking and problem solving. The development of these skills during childhood helps to build a child’s thinking flexibility, creativity, analytical and abstract thinking. These skills not only help in language learning but also in many other areas of life.
3. Development of intercultural competence
Learning a foreign language in childhood allows a child to immerse himself in another culture and mentality. He learns to understand and respect the differences in culture, traditions and customs of other peoples. This develops the child’s intercultural competence, the ability to tolerance and the ability to find a common language with people from different cultures.
4. Improving speech development
Learning a foreign language at an early age contributes to children’s speech development. When learning a foreign language, children learn to formulate their thoughts and ideas in another language, which requires them to actively use vocabulary, correct grammar and pronunciation. This has a positive effect on speech development and allows children to be more confident and literate in their communication.
5. Improved school performance and future careers
Learning a foreign language at a young age can have long-term positive effects on children. It helps to develop their communication skills and improve their overall educational performance. It will be much easier for a child to master foreign language subjects and to participate in international student exchange programs that are available in the future. In addition, knowledge of foreign languages is an advantage when building a career. In an international environment, the demand for multilingual professionals is always high, and a child who has learned a foreign language as a child will have more opportunities for professional growth.
In the book “Polyglot Notes. Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Language” (e-book and paperback) you can find more detailed information about the peculiarities of teaching children of different ages a foreign language. The workshop contains many techniques for learning phonetics and grammar, memorizing words, as well as exercises to develop listening, speaking, writing and listening comprehension skills. You can choose those techniques that will be interesting and effective for your child.
So, learning a foreign language in childhood has many advantages for the child’s development. It contributes to ease of adaptation, improvement of cognitive skills, development of intercultural competence, improvement of speech development and creates favorable conditions for the child’s future professional growth. Therefore, parents should encourage and support their child’s interest in learning foreign languages at an early age. It is an investment in child’s future and development.
