4 methods to learn languages
Learn languages since childhood the goal of many parents, who consider introducing their children in a language other than their mother tongue almost from birth, if possible. At present, there are different methods to learn languages and selecting the one that best suits the circumstances of each child or each family is almost the most difficult. A group of experts in the development of applications for children have made a selection of the most effective formulas for children to learn languages in the easiest way.
Learning languages: 4 ideal methods for children
1. One Person One Language (OPOL) Ideal for families composed of parents of different nationalities. When parents speak different languages, your baby can benefit from this method because he or she will identify each language with a different partner, his or her father or mother. This identification will allow the baby or the child to change in the future of language registration without difficulty depending on the person with whom the interaction takes place, even when both parents are present at the same time. To be truly effective, each parent will have to speak the priority language naturally.
2. Total Physical Response (TPR). Designed to learn two languages as a baby, this method aims to familiarize children with a language other than their mother tongue, even when they still can not speak. The creator of this method is James Asher, who in 1965, focused on the ability of babies to absorb several languages at once. It consists of putting into practice a series of indications, patterns and games, to which the baby will respond physically. The people who must put them into practice are their parents, who will be able to react positively to their child's response to motivate them to continue learning. Asher warns that parents should respect the so-called "period of silence," which occurs when the baby does not produce new words.
3. Synthetic phonetics. Consists of the ability of children to adapt their phonetic device to another language. It can be used in children from two years. This method is the one used by native teaching professionals. With this method, children learn to speak before they read and write, as in the mother tongue. In practice, the child would have to listen and identify the different phonemes, paying attention to the graphemes and sounds they represent. A posteriori this alphabetical knowledge is used progressively in easily decipherable words, phrases and complete texts.
4. Preview Review. It is the slowest learning method, because it is the one that is later used. It is indicated for children from 3 years, who have not had contact with another language and only know the mother. It consists in the simultaneous translation of each word and concept, making several repetitions. The phrases used must be very short and clear for a good assimilation. As the child advances with the second language, the use of the first language should be reduced.
These methods are more effective when they are complemented with audiovisual materials and children's activities such as reading stories, songs and viewing videos in the chosen language. These resources make it possible to attract attention and make language learning an enjoyable activity for children.
Marina Berrio
Advice: Monkimun, experts in application development
