Children are the future of our global
society. The next generation needs to be
even further developed, tolerant, and have the ability to communicate with
different cultures. The great news is
that as young children they absorb everything around them. In Canada, French
has commonly been the choice for a second language. That is logical when it is one of the two
national languages, but exposing your child to Spanish may be important for
other reasons. Spanish is the third most
commonly used language on the Internet after English and Mandarin. It is also
the second most studied language and second language in international
communication, after English, in the world.
As parents, we certainly want the best
for our children, allowing them to reach their potential. Teaching your child
another language, even while he is still developing his first language, has
some real benefits.
Help with Development
Exposing your child to another language
is a great way to help with their development.
General thought is that if they are too young, they will be confused and
it will inhibit their ability to learn their primary language. In reality, learning another language will
improve their linguistic abilities.. Children that are learning or have learned
a foreign language when they are real young tend to do better in school and on
standardized tests. In fact, the earlier you start, the more likely it is that
your child will become proficient in that language, being able to speak and
understand it like a it is his or her natural language.
Expose your child to new cultures
Another benefit is the exposure to
different cultures. By being exposed to
the language they are also being exposed to the culture. Along with learning a language, your child
will certainly benefit from learning about where that language is spoken and
the culture of the people. As your child gets older, he or she will have an
appreciation of another culture other than their own. This will provide him or her a broader
understanding of other cultures, more tolerance, and potentially increase their
curiosity to learn about more cultures.
Teaching your child a new language at a
young age will benefit them both mentally and socially. Helping them learn about different languages
and cultures will make your child more well-rounded, improve learning skills,
and will help them with their future.
