Young children and Foriegn Language Classes

[Ponoma]

Young children and Foriegn Language Classes

When did your child begin classes and how did you pick
what language?

[stafl]

We unschool, so my answer might not be what you are looking for, you might want to ask in the Learning at School forum, if that's the sort of answer you want.

Anyway, I started teaching my DD Spanish about the same time she started stringing words together in sentences (but she's a very verbal child, and that was a really young age, before she could walk, even). So, it was soon after she learned all the names for colors, for example, that I taught her the Spanish words for them, too. Soon after she learned to count, I taught her the numbers in Spanish. We have some bilingual board books that have been really great! No, she is not exactly fluent, but I feel that introducing her to a foreign language early will make it easier if she wants to study it later in life.

I chose Spanish because I studied it in college and feel more comfortable teaching it to her than I would any other language. and also because where we live, if she encounters people speaking anything besides English, it's most likely going to be Spanish or German (and there's no way I could teach her German).

[Ravin]

So far, my DD is exposed to Spanish at her DCP's house, because she is bilingual and speaks it at home a lot (some of the other kids are Spanish-speaking, etc.). I am currently studying Spanish in school, and hope to continue the learning process for both of us throughout her childhood!

[huggerwocky]

my daughter is bilingual german/english and I think the earlier you beginn, the better.Until the age of 10 children can learn a language completely accent free!

[UnschoolnMa]

We unschool as well. My kids did 2 semesters of Japanese classes in 04'. They were 10 and 13 years of age. They were offered by the local homeschool center here, and the teacher was terrific. We loved the approach to teaching (no rewards or grades, just fun and informational) and the kids learned alot.

[EFmom]

My kids are from China, so we are trying to learn Mandarin. My 4yo started this past fall (she was still 3 at the time). We spend Sunday afternoon at Chinese school. There are benefits to our family beyond studying the language, but the language part of it is frustratingly slow given that we don't really have a good way to reinforce it during the week.

[MamaBug]

My ds is in first grade and is taking French class once a week. He seems to enjoy it. The learn a little about the country as well as some simple words and phrases. He can now sing the French ABC song. I only took Spanish in school and am planning to learn French myself via computer so that I can learn right along with him. He will take French right on up until 8th grade. Once in HS they can then pick to continue with French or take a new language

[zo's ma]

My son takes German. He started about 2 years ago, goes on Saturdays for 2 1/2 hours. I chose German because there are quite a few Germans here, we have a bakery/deli, small market where he can go to practice. Also we only have a *German* Lnguage School in this area...I looked into private French lessons but they were really expensive.

[supercrunch]

The public schools here have language immersion programs. I am going to try to get my dd into the Spanish Immersion kindergarten program which feeds into the rest of the elementary school program.

I don't know any foreign languages myself, but my dh grew up moving all over Europe and knows Swedish, Estonian, and some Finnish and Russian...so he's been teaching her what he knows of those. I wish I had more of a capacity for languages, but I never really have. I took 4 semesters of Russian in college and all I remember how to say is "Hi, I'm Dennis" and "I know nothing" :LOL
(yeah, I know I'm not Dennis, but that was what the guy on the video said)

hopefully be exposing dd to language early on she will have more of a capacity for learning languages

[lauraess]

Our son is 6, in first grade, and has been learning German this year.

Mamabug> Thats a great idea: to learn some by the internet to keep up a little!!!

~L

[Ponoma]

Dh and I are having a heated discussion on what lang to start with and when.
It seems that many children in our neighborhood are getting involved with
community center French lessons. Ok, reality check, many of the little
girls in the ballet set are starting to take French - even to the point
some parents are asking for waivers on age reqs to get the kids in.
So is it foriegn langauge for its own sake or just because its "frrennnn-ch"
my husband chides in a exagerated accent. Good point.
Yes Spanish would be more practical I guess. I speak Russian and am trying
to teach her a few words but I am a little afraid any mistakes I made
she would then learn.

Would waiting till she is three make a big difference to start
formal classes?

thoughts?

[stafl]

Originally Posted by Ponoma

Would waiting till she is three make a big difference to start
formal classes?

thoughts?

Honestly, "formal classes" bug me. I wouldn't do them until kid was at least six or seven, and then only if the child really wanted to go and would stick with it all the way through. But three is not too young to introduce the sounds and rhythm of a foreign language, the younger the better! Maybe you could just get some bilingual books or videos from the library that are directed at her age group, if you don't feel comfortable teaching her yourself.