Comments on: Unique holiday gift idea #3: Bilingual poetry http://multiculturaltoybox.com/unique-holiday-gift-idea-3-bilingual-poetry/ Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:41:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Shivangi http://multiculturaltoybox.com/unique-holiday-gift-idea-3-bilingual-poetry/comment-page-1/#comment-1024 Shivangi Mon, 25 Jan 2010 17:29:30 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=145#comment-1024 Lisa's thoughts are very correct - pedagogically speaking. In India, we learn a whole bunch of languages at once and while every child may learn 3 languages, not all of them speak all the languages well. Flash cards and electronic DVDs are probably the worst thing you can do to your child. Children also learn speech by the vibrations produced by a speaker and feel the nuances and cadence of the language through these vibrations produced. If you want your child to learn another tongue, wait till they are older and get a professional teacher. Lisa’s thoughts are very correct – pedagogically speaking. In India, we learn a whole bunch of languages at once and while every child may learn 3 languages, not all of them speak all the languages well.

Flash cards and electronic DVDs are probably the worst thing you can do to your child. Children also learn speech by the vibrations produced by a speaker and feel the nuances and cadence of the language through these vibrations produced. If you want your child to learn another tongue, wait till they are older and get a professional teacher.

]]> By: Lisa williams http://multiculturaltoybox.com/unique-holiday-gift-idea-3-bilingual-poetry/comment-page-1/#comment-1002 Lisa williams Wed, 09 Dec 2009 04:49:38 +0000 http://multiculturaltoybox.com/?p=145#comment-1002 I would just like to point out, that although I am bilingual, and I plan on raising my children (one on the way) to speak English and Spanish, when research says that the first year of a child's life is a critical period for learning language, that mostly means their first language. I have a master's degree in ESL/bilingual education and I studied specifically what it takes to learn a second language. Although many people say that children learn it easier, mostly they refer to common language and the ability to speak without sounding like a foreigner. Young children do not necessarily learn a second language better than older children or adults. Literate people bring their knowledge of their first language when learning a second. they understand the difference between parts of speech, questions and statements, verb tenses, etc. So while I do encourage parents to try to help their children learn a second language, please do not feel that if you don't start in the first year, all is lost. Also, if the only experience the child has with a second language is through flash cards or DVDs, don't expect them to become bilingual. Learning a second language, just like your first, is best done in a meaningful context, like hearing adults use it, or using language for a real purpose. I would just like to point out, that although I am bilingual, and I plan on raising my children (one on the way) to speak English and Spanish, when research says that the first year of a child’s life is a critical period for learning language, that mostly means their first language. I have a master’s degree in ESL/bilingual education and I studied specifically what it takes to learn a second language. Although many people say that children learn it easier, mostly they refer to common language and the ability to speak without sounding like a foreigner. Young children do not necessarily learn a second language better than older children or adults. Literate people bring their knowledge of their first language when learning a second. they understand the difference between parts of speech, questions and statements, verb tenses, etc.

So while I do encourage parents to try to help their children learn a second language, please do not feel that if you don’t start in the first year, all is lost. Also, if the only experience the child has with a second language is through flash cards or DVDs, don’t expect them to become bilingual. Learning a second language, just like your first, is best done in a meaningful context, like hearing adults use it, or using language for a real purpose.

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