There are many advantages to introducing your young child to a secondary language. More and more schools are incorporating full secondary language plans into their curriculums. Taking advantage of the critical time in early development when acquiring skills comes naturally and easy will help your child become fluent in another language. A child?s capacity to pronounce unfamiliar, foreign sounds and to absorb new grammar rules is highly enhanced prior to the age of six. Giving your child the gift of secondary language fluency can give them the following advantages.
The ability to travel
Many Americans are hesitant to travel to other countries because they do not know the other language. This can make it difficult to ask for directions, order food and drinks at a restaurant, or schedule travel accommodations. If they attempt to learn the language as an adult, they will have a much harder time becoming fluent. Between the ages of 8 and 12, your child will lose the ability to hear and reproduce new sounds as they did when they were younger, making foreign language acquisition not impossible, but difficult. If the child does not begin language acquisition until adulthood, it could be even more challenging.
Improved career opportunities
The job market itself is very competitive. Without a college education, many years of experience, and stellar recommendations, it can be difficult to be competitive. Even with these things, you might find it difficult to compete with other candidates. Having language fluency can significantly increase career opportunities. Large employers are always looking for employees that speak multiple languages, as it improves their ability to connect with international clients and customers. Being fluent in a secondary language can significantly increase job chances.
Higher career pay
Because employee candidates with multiple languages are often hard to come by, many employers are willing to pay an additional income for it. It is proven that bilingual employees earn, on average, 20% more per hour than monolingual employees. By enrolling your child in an early Spanish for preschool program and then following with an elementary Spanish program, you are also increasing their career earnings later in life. This could prove to be even more valuable than a college funding program. Most Spanish for preschool programs are very affordable and translate into a high return on investment.
How you can improve your child?s language acquisition
Of course, introducing your child to a secondary language at a young age will significantly help them increase their language skills. However, there are other things that you can do to increase the pace at which they pick up the other language. While Spanish for preschools is a great way to introduce your child to a structured lesson, the secondary language should also be practiced at home. Children are able to pick up their first language easily because they are surrounded by it.
Introduce homeschool Spanish lessons to your child before they begin school and for evenings and weekends. A beginner Spanish curriculum can also be learned by all household members, even at the children’s Spanish curriculum level. This homeschool Spanish curriculum makes it so the child can practice their new language skills both in school and at home, thus leading to faster acquisition.
Multilingual individuals are exposed to many advantages including better travel opportunities, more career competitiveness, and a higher career pay. When you introduce your child to a secondary language at a young age and enroll them in a Spanish for preschool program, you are giving them the gift of culture and a lifetime of benefits.