What is a good age to start teaching a baby a second language?

Question

I know we should have started talking in both languages since she was born. What is a good age to really start focusing on it?

Answer 1

My son is 20 months old, and now we are really focusing on him being bi-lingual since he is starting to understand and really grasp language.

Answer 2

Now, why not add three languages. Babies pick up the best on sign language and it truly is helpful to parents. I worked in child care and the 1 year olds loved being able to communicate with their hands. Try that as well as two other languages.

Good Luck, and great job for teaching other languages!

Answer 3

Asap. I saw a show that says scientists think that teaching a child more than 1 language early on results in their brain actually organizing language differently (same with music). I can't remember the specifics, but, if a child learns only 1 language at birth, it is harder to learn other languages later on. I think the main point/finding was that the brain will be more flexible and store the word, for example, for apple in both languages in the same area if they learn more than one language. If they learn only 1 language, it might store similar fruits in the same area. This leads to a more flexible (less rigid) architecture of the brain for alternative words for the same object. With music, it does something along the same lines and makes the childs brain more adaptable.

Our son is 2 and is just starting to say English words. But we don't hesitate to say spanish, french and indonesian words to him. He already knows about 2 indonesian words.

Answer 4

Since birth!! I speak to my son only in Spanish, his dad speaks to him only in German & English is everywhere!
We have done this since birth, he is now 22 months old and is tri-lingual. He understands everything when he is spoken to in any of the three languages. He can also produce in all three languages and seems to understand that he knows three words for everything. If someone doesn't understand what he says, he'll repeat it in a different language. It's amazing!
Children have the capacity to learn multiple languages, and they are processing language way before they start to speak.
Go for it!! It should be a natural part of their life!

Answer 5

the younger the better, children are capable of speaking every language known to man so if you want your child to speak another language, teach it right along with english as you would normally from the day you bring the child home but it is never to late to learn

Answer 6

From birth.
If you want baby to be bilingual, start using both languages now.

Answer 7

as early as possible you can start from birth.

Answer 8

NOW!