AHMARUDDIN

Learning English: Why Earlier Is Better?

You may be remembering your own language struggles and wondering if it will be the same for your child. You will be happy to know that language learning is a different experience for children than it is for adults.

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Some programs claim to teach you English the same way that you learned your native language, but this is not as simple as it may sound. When children learn their native language, they listen for almost two years before they begin to speak. Once they do speak, it is another few years before they can clearly communicate. They start off with single words and sentence fragments (parts) before they can express complex ideas.

If it takes a child this long to master their native language, wouldn’t they become confused and overwhelmed trying to learn another language, too? The answer is..., NO!. Here are a few reasons why young children can master English easily.

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Eagerness to Learn

When children are young, their brains are like sponges. They are always absorbing information. This information comes out later, sometimes at unexpected times. Think of how much children must hear in the first two years of their lives. Once they are old enough, they can apply meaning to the words they hear.

Here is an example: From the day your baby is born, you say “milk” when it comes time to feed them. You prepare them to be fed and say “milk,” feed them and say “milk.” Once they finish, you say something like “Did you enjoy your milk?”

They hear this for several months. One day, to your surprise, your child points to a milk carton and says, “Milk.” They have learned the word and the correct application. From this point forward, they can ask for milk and communicate when they are hungry using words. If children live in a home where more than one language is spoken, they will absorb all of the words that apply to milk.

Children use the deep motor area of the brain, which helps them absorb a second (or even third) language subconsciously (without being aware of it). These functions typically slow by age 11. This is the reason why children who move to a foreign country with a new language can usually master the language at a faster rate than their parents.

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Less Self-consciousness

When adults are learning English, or any other language, they are often afraid of making mistakes. They are also afraid of looking unintelligent to others when making mistakes, such as mispronouncing words or using incorrect grammar. The number one rule for an English learner is to have a sense of humor, because it is not a question of if you will make mistakes. All language learners make mistakes. It is part of the process.

However, children are always learning new things, so they are not concerned about how they will look when they make mistakes. They make mistakes all the time! They don’t take themselves as seriously as adults.

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Less to Learn

Children use simpler language structures than adults. When they are learning a new language, they use materials similar to what they study in their native language. While using children’s materials may seem like a step backward for adults, children will be right at home using materials that are familiar to them.

Methods That Help Kids to Learn a Language

To figure out what type of learning program is best for your child, let’s first consider the different methods that are best for teaching children a language.

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Immersive

Language immersion gives your child a chance to hear English first-hand in a natural environment. They will hear others use English and they will pick it up by exposure (from being surrounded by it). Immersion is a great way for anyone to learn a language, because you are learning while completing everyday tasks. You also hear English the way it is spoken, rather than the way it may be written in textbooks, which can be awkward or unnatural.

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Vocabulary-based

Many children already use vocabulary-based resources to pick up their native language. These programs provide the learner with pictures and the words that describe them. The methods they use are also immersive because many of these programs will include no dialogue in the child’s native language, forcing them to think in English.

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Communicative

Communicative approaches are popular in language schools. Whether your child is learning face-to-face or online via Skype or a similar program, they will have a chance to build their abilities by actively communicating in English. Usually, they will work with a native English speaker who will correct them on the spot (right away), allowing them to learn quickly and build the confidence they need to use English in everyday life.