Our understanding and interpretation
of the world around us is shaped by language. In a society that is
increasingly global, the benefits of learning more than one language are
numerous. This is especially true for children, who can reap the distinct
advantages of being bilingual. Increased creativity and problem-solving skills,
improved memory and concentration, and better critical thinking skills are all
enhanced when kids learn more than one language.
Academic performance seems to be affected as well. Bilingual kids show higher
scores on standardized testing, as well as improvement in math, reading, and
writing. As they grow into adulthood, being able to communicate in more
than one language can give them a boost at succeeding in other areas of their
lives. You can visit the Tomedes translation blog to
read more articles on the advantages of bilingualism and its impact.
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| image:pixabay.com/photos/boys-kids-children-happy-sitting-286245 |
Language learning can expand your children’s
educational and social opportunities as well. And while it's a little early to
think about a future occupation, it can positively influence their career path
as well. As a bilingual or multilingual citizen, they will be a natural
fit for professional work in the translation, language services, and global
e-commerce industries–to name a few.
Why
It’s Best to Learn New Languages at a Young Age
Young children are ideally suited for learning new languages. They’re
naturally curious about the world around them and haven’t yet developed
self-consciousness about how they speak. They can mimic sounds, make up
their own silly words, and learn through trial and error without feeling
embarrassed. Young children aren’t fearful of making a mistake or getting a bad
test grade. Incorporating a new language into their lives can be fun for
both of you.
Using
Translation in Music for Very Young Children
Many of us learned our ABC by
singing a simple song, one that probably still plays in your head at the mention
of it. Memory and music are intrinsically tied together. Children can
learn to sing even before they learn to speak, so using translated lyrics to
teach your child another language makes absolute sense.
The melodies of popular children’s songs are often the same in multiple
languages, with only the translation differing. “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat” and
“Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” are just two examples of popular children's
songs that are found in other cultures. Because your child is likely to be familiar
with these tunes already, learning the words in the target language will be
easier. Just hearing them repeated will be advantageous.
Short nursery rhymes and poems can also be adapted in this way. If your
child knows all the words to “Goodnight Moon” by heart, reading them the same
book in the target translation makes for a great bedtime routine. They will be
able to identify the scenes of each picture with the new sounds they hear you
speak and the new words they see on the page.
Bilingual
Flashcard Games for Older Children
If your child has grown past the
stage of nursery rhymes and songs, playing games and activities with a little
bit more excitement might be in order. While many people equate flashcards with
long and tedious multiplication tables, today's colourful flashcards are
designed to be stimulating and fast-paced. A quick Google search for
“translation flashcard games” will result in pages of all kinds of creative
ideas like:
Bean Bag Toss: Place the flashcards facing down on the floor. Have
your child toss a beanbag to see which card it lands on. Turn the card over and
say the word to rack up points.
Swatting Game: Spread
all the cards face-up on the table. Give your child a flyswatter. You say the
word, and the child identifies and swats the corresponding picture or
translation as quickly as possible. This game is a great one if you are
teaching more than one child.
Fishing game: Attach
a paperclip to a few flashcards and put it in a box or pail decorated like a
pond. Using a “fishing pole” made of a stick, string, and magnet, have your
child “go fishing” for a card. When they catch one, they have to say and
translate the word. If they can’t, it goes back in the pond. The game is over
when all the “fish” have been caught and translated correctly.
Treasure
Hunts with Translated Clues
Kids of all ages love treasure
hunts. The great thing about them is that you can adapt them to any
environment or situation. You can perform them on road trips in the form of a
“spot the object” game, or elaborately plan clues that need translation in
order to lead to the treasure.
For smaller children, you can use color flashcards to find five objects or toys
that match the color on the card, translating each object into the target
language as they locate them. You can adapt the same concept for shapes,
or letters of the alphabet. Using a timer with a buzzer or chime makes the game
even more exciting.
For older kids, a grocery store scavenger hunt can be educational and practical
as well. Give them a basket and a shopping list and have them locate
different foods in the store. If they decipher evert translation correctly,
allow them to choose a favorite snack (provided they can say it in the target
language, of course!).
An outdoor treasure hunt to a park
or playground can identify different trees, plants, and a whole host of other objects.
This is a fun way of getting some air and outdoor exercise while working on
your child’s translation skills. With a little imagination, you can adapt virtually
any type of treasure hunt to make it into a language learning experience.
Have
Patience and Keep It Casual
Kids tend to pick up languages
faster than adults but, like anyone, will shut down when they feel forced or
pressured. Remember to keep the learning environment fresh and exciting and
incorporate translation into your everyday life without overdoing it.
A bilingual or multilingual citizen
enjoys the advantages of an expanded approach to the
world. It’s never too early to give your child a great foundation in foreign
language learning to start broadening their horizons.
Author Bio
Louise Taylor is the head of content
for Tomedes translation agency, which offers language and content writing
services around the world. She has loved foreign languages since beginning
to learn her first one as a young child.
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