AlphaTykes Spanish teacher with flashcards
Children who learn another language seem to do much better at school and university. If you’re sighing and wishing you lived in Europe where everyone speaks at least two languages, don’t despair. There are schools in Brisbane to give your child the benefits of learning an extra language.
It doesn’t really matter what language a child learns or even if they don’t become fluent; what’s important is the different way of looking at the world, openness to diverse concepts and critical thinking that learning a foreign language provides.
Teach your kid yourself
You don’t need to be fluent in a foreign language to teach it effectively. All you need is a little preparation and lots of creativity.
If the option is available to you, the easiest way to introduce a foreign language in the home is to have a native speaking grandparent, family friend or nanny speak only one language to the child. If you are in a relationship where your partner speaks another language, encourage them to use it as often as possible with your child.
Foreign language and bilingual schools
Teaching children a foreign language helps with brain development and lays the foundation for lifelong academic achievement, with the impact greatest the earlier the language is learnt.
If you aren’t able to teach your children yourself, why not enrol them in a foreign language school, a childcare centre that offers a foreign language program or join a foreign language playgroup where you can mix with bilingual parents and children?
AlphaTykes
AlphaTykes is a foreign language program introducing children 18 months to 12 years of age to Spanish, French and Italian. It is the first concept of its kind in Australia and is designed specifically for families who do not speak a foreign language in the home.
In Brisbane, AlphaTykes currently operates three foreign language centres at Kenmore, Ashgrove and Upper Mt Gravatt.
Toowong State School
Bilingual doesn’t just refer to spoken language. Brisbane also offers a bilingual state school - Toowong State School - where Auslan is the other language used.
Immersion programs
Several state schools in Brisbane offer immersion programs for students in grades 8-10. In these programs, 50-60% of the curriculum is taught in the chosen language.
French
German
Indonesian
Spanish
How you can help your child learn
You don’t need to worry if you are not a native speaker, rather concentrate on what you learn with your child and incorporate the new words into everyday language.
This can be as simple as replacing one word of an English sentence with the same word in the foreign language, such as a colour, a number or an animal. Replace English words with these words as often as possible. This will help build your child’s memory and skill.
Cue cards attached to doors, furniture, food, appliances, clothing and other items around the home are also an effective tool to help your child learn the words even quicker.
Check out videos and movies with a bilingual approach or try watching your child’s favourite DVD with a foreign language soundtrack substituted for English (most DVDs have Select A Language option).
After a few months you will start to see progress, with your child naturally substituting foreign words for English equivalents in sentences, counting or identifying objects in the foreign language.
Remember that young children will stay engaged and respond to language instruction if you make it fun. Provide your child with a fun environment in which to practice the words and phrases that they have learned, incorporating these words into games and songs, you’ll be building a great base in the new language. And your child will be learning and not even realise it!
This is fantastic information! And very surprising too. Great news about the high schools offering immersion programs and that there is somewhere for pre-high school aged kids to get a head start.