At LS Tutors, we often get requests for foreign language help. Our tutor, Marc, shares his perspective on how to maximize and expand one’s knowledge base when learning a new language…
~~~~~
As a foreign language teacher and learner, I’ve gained valuable insights into the long, arduous, and often misunderstood language learning process. Here are some tips to make your child’s journey with foreign language fun, productive, and meaningful.
Introduce the culture(s) to keep the “why” front and center
One of my favorite attributes of young people is their love of asking questions. Why learn a foreign language? It’s so complicated yet learning a foreign language is a challenging and enriching process. It makes us more intellectually stimulated and well-rounded while giving us access to new cultures, friends, and opportunities. If we don’t keep the “why” in mind, foreign language learning will be highly tedious and formulaic. So let’s keep the “why” front and center by highlighting the cultures and experiences we’re trying to unlock.
The good news is that plane tickets are optional in order to give your young learner a taste of these foreign cultures. Trying new foods as a family, going to local international festivals, or firing up a foreign film on Netflix are all fantastic options!
Give opportunities for your child to show their expertise
Make sure you’re never putting your child on the spot, and for example, insist they order food in the language they’re learning (been there). Instead, make them feel like an expert by periodically asking them how to say certain words you know they’ve already mastered.
Make use of media and language apps
Encourage building and maintaining daily streaks on apps like Duolingo, Quizlet, and SpanishDict. Some of these apps have built in “rewards” for daily practice which motivates students to practice consistently.
One can find books on any imaginable topic targeted at foreign language learners of all ages and levels. These books tend to be short, sweet, and unintimidating, so even if your child isn’t an independent reader, it’s still great exposure. For music lovers, Spotify’s top 200 Daily Charts by country is an excellent way of finding hit foreign-language songs. Podcasts are also a great option, with Duolingo offering fantastic podcasts for beginner-intermediate Spanish and French learners.
Be a study buddy for your child
Flashcards work great for learning and reviewing foreign language vocabulary. Consider getting involved by creating flashcards together and making games out of practicing the vocabulary words.
Find a foreign language pen-pal
Consider creating correspondence between your child and a friendly acquaintance who speaks the language they’re learning. This arrangement might motivate your young learner to try out new words and phrases as they gain confidence and receive constructive feedback from their language pen-pal.
Enjoy the journey
While keeping the “destination” of learning a foreign language front and center is vital, the journey is equally important. You’ll be amazed by the tenacity, creativity, and discipline your child develops during their foreign language journey and the doors that learning a foreign language will open for them.
Marc is a LS Tutor specializing in Spanish, English, and History and a Freelance Writer. Contact Lori at lori@lstutors.com to book your tutoring session today!