Teaching a child a language??

RoxieW

Hi all

Any advice on this would be appreciated. My 5 year old started learning french and spanish at his private nursery, and really enjoyed and did well. He often calls things by the french or spanish name. Unfortunately, the primary school he has started dont do much in the way of languages - they do a little french every 2 weeks.

I'd like to carry on my sons learning but dont know where to start. I tried getting children 'learn french/spanish' books and teaching him myself but I didnt have a clue of the pronunciation.

Has anyone tried Muzzy or any other language learning system? They are quite expensive so am keen to take advice before purchasing?

Or if anyone could suggest any other method? I cant find any classes/language clubs in my area - I live in Derbyshire, but if anyone knows of any?

Many thanks

Oldernotwiser

Are you quite sure that you have the skills to do this!!??

absolutebounder

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Are you quite sure that you have the skills to do this!!??

Dubious, judging by the title of the thread

Jonbvn

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Are you quite sure that you have the skills to do this!!??

LOL!

OP, when you have mastered English you can then consider TEACHING your child.;)

bigheadxx

In Wales most kids learn Welsh from an early age and are generallt taught through the medium of Welsh. Their English speaking parents are in the same situation as you. I think getting hold of some popular kids programmes that have been dubbed in French and some reading books is a good start.

liney

What an encouraging lot you are. OP is asking about clubs and Muzzy DVD's to help her child learn. I assume that's a terrrible thing..!

Fen1

1. Go to your local library and see what resouces they have.

2. Ask at your local libray/TIC for language groups, both for adults and children. Getting the language skills yourself will help your child, and you may find other people in the groups have information regarding childrens' groups. Get networking.

3. Try the following for foreign programmes: www.tv4all.com
Got this info from MSE forum.

4. Ask your old nursery for help and advice.

5. Stick with it! The more languages your child aquires now the easier it will be for him in the long term (instead of having to learn in secondary school). Being multi-lingual is a real joy, and an absolute bonus with job-hunting in monoglot UK.

Bon chance!

pariskate

Get hold of some french language kid's programmes (age appropriate) from amazon.fr. A lot of BBC programmes are dubbed into French (I have the teletubbies saying 'gros calin'). I found the TV really useful for our children when they were first learning French. I find that trying to teach your own children can be fraught ith problems but they like to watch all sorts and just seem to suck in the new language.

pavlovs_dog

1) whilst perhaps not put over in the most tactful of ways, the above posters are correcting in stating that a good grasp of correct grammar in the first language is essential to successfully master subsequent languages. a lot of students in my language groups have struggled to get their head around the grammar and syntax of other languages because they do not have a good enough understanding of their own grammar and syntax to compare it to.

2) i cant speak for the virtues of muzzy, but exposure is the way to go. check out 'foreign' versions of amazon or ebay to import popular childrens dvd programmes and books.

check your local newspaper and library for details of local play groups. i know of a french and welsh medium one in my local area to enourage language development amongst children from monolingual families.

3) the secret to learning any language is to start with the basics (nouns) and build up, gradually adding pronouns, verbs, adverbs, tenses, idioms etc. start with numbers, colours, alphabet, days of the week, months of the year, names of food, rooms of the house etc and go from there. without the basics you cannot master the advanced stuff.

4)it will only 'stick' in the memory, and therefore benefit your child long term, if s/he has the opportunity to use the language they are acquiring. occasional exposure in school is insufficient. if you are prepared to go down this route, then it might be an idea for you to learn the language yourself, so that your child has someone they can converse with through that medium.

holidaying in an area where the language is spoken would also prove beneficial

Oldernotwiser

pavlovs_dog wrote: »

1)

if you are prepared to go down this route, then it might be an idea for you to learn the language yourself, so that your child has someone they can converse with through that medium.

holidaying in an area where the language is spoken would also prove beneficial

You're right, it was tactless but I just thought that it was funny.:o

Regarding the above point, I never thought that anyone would try to teach a child a language that they didn't know themselves! Perhaps learning together would be the best approach.

unrich

I think the OP is correct in their usage.

I remember being chased round a language lab with a bright orange french teacher shouting "I'll learn you".