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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Start language before age three

The Straits Times, Singapore, 11 June 2013

At the recent International Symposium on Bilingualisam held in Singapore, experts say that children learn language best before the age of three. To help them learn a language well at that young age, it is best to speak to the child in the language you are strongest in. If you speak in a language that you are not fluent in, the child will learn all your mistakes and be limited in his/her vocabulary.

At that age, the child is simply a sponge, not a thinking individual. What the experts advise is probably correct. I have heard of children growing up in a bilingual household from birth. One parent speaks to the child in one language and the other parent speaks to the child in another language. As the child grows up, he will speak to either parent in the language he has heard out of that parent's mouth from birth. He becomes effectively bilingual without even realising that he is so.

Miracle? Not really. It's just how we're wired, I suppose. My Filipino friends have lived in Vietnam for many years. Both speak Vietnamese fluently. When their two children were born in Vietnam, they decided to speak English at home, instead of Tagalog, their native language. The children picked up Vietnamese from their domestic help and local friends. When it was time for school, the mother began an uphill battle to teach them Filipino (the national language of The Philippines, known locally as Tagalog). I suppose to their young minds, they saw no need to learn their native language when they live in Vietnam and mix around local people, not Filipinos. Hiring a Filipino teacher to teach them didn't help the process. Should the parents have made a different decision? Only parents can make that decision, not anyone else.

My aunt and uncle bought many DVDs to teach children Mandarin for their granddaughter who has heard nothing but English since birth. The little girl had no interest in watching Mandarin lessons, preferring to watch DVDs on ballet and orchestra performances. One day, she suddenly pointed to one of the Mandarin DVDs and asked to watch it. That was the point of no return. At 10 now, she attends Mandarin lessons once a week and can write quite a few Chinese characters from memory, including her own name. While she may never be fluent since her home environment is purely English-speaking, she has an interest that could be pursued more aggressively in the near future.

If you want your child to be exposed to more than just one language or culture, start early. You may not know another language, but you can use children's DVDs, picture books, or even introduce your child to a foreign friend in your neighbourbood to get started. A whole world awaits you out there!

Happy learning a new language!

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