Helping your children find new activities to keep them stimulated during the pandemic can be a little complicated. Accordingly, finding the right angle is key if you want your children to enjoy what they do, especially when learning or practicing a new language.
Some children have been enjoying their new schedules and experimenting with hobbies or games they had never had time for before the pandemic, while others have moved on from that phase and are experimenting with “squandering time”. At home, we managed to recharge our batteries and turn over a new leaf during the pandemic. We found time for old hobbies and new interests. Among the new interests – world languages.
My younger son, sua sponte chose to ramp up his Spanish skills by working diligently on Duolingo, challenging himself to move to the next level quicker than ever before as well as doing Spanish packet after packet of written material supplied by “moi” at an alarming rate. For him, it’s a race to the end of the Duolingo program.
My other son, on the other hand, who is more laid back and less competitive, decided, without any prompting, to learn a brand new language during the pandemic. Russian. It has not been a race for him to reach the top level, there is no pressure to learn, no expectations. The fact that Russian has an additional facet – its alphabet – did not deter him, and unlike his brother, he is slowly making progress through all the beginner level topics.
My observations and my takeaway from this experience can help parents support their children’s world language studies. Take into account their personalities. Are they competitive or laid back? Do they prefer to master what they know or try something new? Where do their interests lie? Are they visual learners or auditory? After spending a little time trying to determine what works for them, select a strategic approach to introduce a language or support and further their existing language skills. Find the tools that would pique their interest, such as an audio book, a movie, a game, a magazine, a song in the target language that relates to his or her interests or that complements their learning style.
It was extremely interesting to see how, during the pandemic, each of my boys gravitated to a different world language learning experience. This observation gives life to the adage “to each his own”. How differently each approached the language learning experience when they found themselves with extra time. Different approaches, yet same results.
Have you taken note of how your child or children experience learning a second language?
World Languages for Toddlers, Children & Beyond 