Kids learning English begets a very different approach compared to adults learning the language. The benefits are mostly the same—speaking the top language used across many nations definitely opens doors of opportunities in both social and professional contexts, after all—but the motivation and interest, among many other things, might be different. Parents may have already noticed this: what might be interesting to them may be dull or boring to their kids. This might apply in this particular situation of discovering a whole new world in a language different from the one used at home.
Due to the pandemic, children seem to be safer learning English and on their own with the guidance of their parents. That doesn’t mean we can’t take tips from experts on what learning the language should be like. Thought leaders, book authors, and other language learning advocates weigh in on what learning English should be like for kids:
Keep it simple.
“There’s not one answer, but teaching at home doesn’t have to look like teaching at school. (...) Every day doesn’t have to look the same. As parents, our goal should be simple, accessible, and fun.”
- Tunette Powell, head of the UCLA Parent Empowerment Project
This tip shared by Powell in an article on the UCLA community website takes a lot of pressure off of parents who have children staying at home to study. This tip extends to all subjects but rings especially true when learning a new language. Studying English at home doesn’t always mean having a book open, writing lines, and going through different grammar points. It can also mean children establishing independence while exploring the use of animation, videos, games, and pictures in their lessons. Thankfully, there are many platforms online that can provide these. SparkEd Tech’s SparkABC, for example, hosts tens of thousands of activities that children can find fun and interactive.
Learn through song.
"Music activates more parts of the brain than language does. (...) Find songs where the words are not sung very fast so that you can hear each word distinctly."
- Susanna Zaraysky, author of Language is Music
From nursery rhymes to K-pop hits, songs have always been a surefire way of opening gateways to any language. The quote Zaraysky shared in an article about language learning tips perfectly encompassed how songs can be used with kids learning English: the ability to capture interest and emotion through melody fires up the human brain in a way nothing else can. Looking for catchy tunes matched with words and phrases that your kids need to learn can both be easy and difficult. Having a catalog to refer to, such as the 50+ songs in the SparkEd Tech app, can be a good start. Letting your children choose the songs they’d like to learn is not only interesting to them but also instrumental to their learning.
Start with things they know and like.
"Trying to describe the world around me regularly in the language I’m learning. This exposes gaps in my vocabulary and gives me ample opportunities for active recall. For example, I may try to describe what a man crossing the street is wearing. And then I’ll ask myself: Do I know the name for all his items of clothing in my target language? Do I know all of the colors? If there’s a woman pushing a pram, do I know the word for “pram” in my foreign language?"
- David Mansaray, language learning blogger and vlogger behind the Language Is Culture podcast
To fully understand this tip, we take a look at what philosopher Immanuel Kant said: “Languages are a representation of our thoughts.” So children will more likely be more interested in learning about words that they can use to express themselves. This includes feelings, as Choice Words author Peter H. Johnston has pointed out. When introducing English to children, it is best to remember that, rather than looking at it in an academic context, personalizing lessons to fit children’s interests may be the way to go. Parents can start by letting children discover the vocabulary of their interest, such as food, animals, sports and more. A good resource for this is SparkEd Tech’s dynamic flashcards. Their very diverse selection, with more than 2600 cards to choose from, intends to arm your children with the vocabulary they need to start with.
Immerse the kids in English fully.
“I tend to want to absorb as much as possible right from the start (...) I try to think in it, try to write in it, try to speak to myself even in that language. For me, it’s about actually putting what you’re learning into practice (...) Surrounding yourself, submerging yourself in the new language culture is extremely important.”
- Matthew Youlden, a polyglot who speaks nine languages
In his feature on Babbel.com, Youlden was talking about his experience in learning a language. This, however, is invaluable when introducing English to children. When learning English is immersive and interactive, it becomes most effective. Through this type of learning, children can naturally acquire the language while continuously being exposed to more and more contexts they can explore and discover. Nowadays, immersive English learning is best paired with AI technology. Technological advancements have paved the way to platforms and apps that host exciting activities and exercises children can use to learn English in a more convenient way. So convenient, in fact, that there are some that children can use on their own. Self-learning courses for beginners, like the ones SparkEd Tech offers, give the freedom for kids to truly immerse themselves in English at their own pace.
There are many ways kids can learn English that parents can explore. Aside from the subject matter itself, it is also important to take into consideration a kid’s interests and personality. After all, it is one thing for children to learn how to speak a language and another thing to have them fall in love with it.
Immersive and natural language learning through fun and interactive self-study courses are at the forefront of SparkEd Tech’s ethos as a learning app. With their technology aligned with children's cognitive development, presented through multiple types of learning materials, the SparkEd Tech app may be the platform your children need for the continued improvement of their English skills.
Download the app today and get free ten classes. Already a fan? Share it with your children's friends and get a discount. Learn more about SparkEd Tech here.