Bilingual children have better brain function

In general, learning anything at a young age means we learn faster and better. Language is no different. Whether a child is exposed to only one or multiple languages at home, the same rule applies. The child will pick up the language naturally and fluently, just as he hears it. An American family living in Asia for many years hired a Chinese nanny for their daughters as soon as each was born, when they were living in Beijing. The two girls speak Mandarin fluently. When asked when they started learning Mandarin, the older girl looked at her father puzzled. She learned Mandarin from the day she was born. By the time she started nursery school, she was already fluent, even though neither of her parents speak Mandarin.

Experts advocate starting a child on another language at age three. At that age, children learn by imitation, rather than by explanation. Grammar lessons come much later. By then, the child is already speaking and understanding fluently. Grammar rules simply reinforce what he already knows.

Now experts say that learning another language helps our brain function better. Bilingual adults can code-switch faster and do better on tasks that need concentration and flexibility. Switching between languages is a natural ability, rather than having to think of what to say in another language. Regardless, any way to get our brains to be more efficient is always welcome. Most people are always complaining about how forgetful they have become.

If you're thinking about starting your child on another language, you can try KidSpeak or Rosetta Stone. Both packages are designed for the child learner. Your child will have fun and learn very quickly.

Have fun learning a new language!

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KidSpeak - immerse your child in a new language

KidSpeak Language Learning Software is distributed by Transparent Language. It is designed for children aged 5-13 years. Nine languages are available but in Windows format only, even in Windows 98. This programme does not work in Mac.

Like Rosetta Stone, KidSpeak uses the immersion method to teach children. All activities are interactive and entertaining for children. There are games, puzzles, connect the dots, and songs to help children learn correct pronunciation, alphabet, word recognition, simple sentence structure, plural and singular forms, numbers, etc. A cartoon character is the teacher. No English is used at all, but English can be shown by a click of the mouse.

The younger the child, the faster he will pick up the language. The activity sheets can be printed as another option, instead of point and click on the screen. While children will pick up the language quickly, they will merely be introduced to the new language, rather than be fluent in it by the end of the CD pack. There are no tests or evaluation to tell the parent how well the child has progressed. The entire premise of the package is fun and entertainment.

Depending on the learning style of the child, he may either find this frustrating, boring or fun.

Frustrating because there is no English used at all. He may be in tears due to the lack of understanding.
Boring because the graphics and games are old fashioned. Remember, you can use this on Windows 98 and later versions of Windows.
Fun because it is all fun and games with songs included.

Overall, it is reasonably priced for a starter package. It costs a fraction of Rosetta Stone, with similar teaching style. If you want to try it out on your child without spending a lot of money, get KidSpeak.

Have fun learning a new language!

Fun Language Tools