Yes! Yes! Yes!
This article is at the heart of what I'm doing with my children. As you already know, I'm not a fluent speaker of Spanish. But I'm not going to let my limits/insecurities stop me from laying the best possible foundation I can for my children to be bilingual.
Read on and be encouraged!
What If I Don't Speak a Language, But I Hope My Child Will?
More and more parents are eager to raise their children to be bilingual. They know what an important asset this ability will be for their children down the road—opening doors in higher education, the business world, politics, law, science, the arts and many other fields. In a world that is only getting 'smaller' or 'flatter' as technology bridges nations, learning another language will give the children of today the preparation and the broader outlook they will need tomorrow. Fortunately, a growing number of parents now recognize that their children are ready to learn a new language. They know that children are uniquely situated to be quick and exuberant learners, 'locking in' cognitive benefits—sharper reading skills, greater creativity and problem-solving skills, and greater overall awareness of language—while having a blast exploring the fun new sounds and words they're playfully encountering.
Children are naturally open to language in a way that often amazes their parents. Less self-conscious and less anxious, they see a new language as a wide open field to do the things they already love to do—rhyme, make up words, create imaginary friends, try out funny sounds. We all could take a page from a child's ready sense of wonder and adventurouness." (Read more)
1 comment:
I agree! It is entirely possible, which is why I wrote an entire book with activities and lessons outlining how to do it:
Teach Your Child Spanish Through Play, A Guide and Resource for Parents. There are also some free lesson plans on my website: www.linguaculture.net
Post a Comment