At what age would it be best to start teaching my 19month old son a second language? I'm aware that some children start learning from birth but I'm worried that if I start too early it will just confuse him..........he hasn't even mastered English yet.
2007-01-25 21:16:01 · 13 answers · asked by dnbgrrly 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Toddler & Preschooler
I am a Canadian and I live in Taiwan. We started teaching my son from birth. He is now 3 years old and can speak three languages fluently and can even speak a little bit of Japanese, too.
Don't worry about him getting confused, children will absorb everything and they are great at sorting out information and analyzing it; probably better than our computers. If you wait, it will be much more difficult for him. Just make sure that you continue to use both languages a lot so that he can learn both equally.
2007-01-25 21:41:44 · answer #1 · answered by A dad & a teacher 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Start now, they pick it up so fast it is unbelieveable. You really can start from birth, it works. You won't confuse him. If both parents, or more than one bi-lingual adult are around have one speak one language to him, and the other use English. He will learn both easily although you might notice that he picks the easier word to say when actually labeling something. For example, if the language was spanish saying "queso" instead of "cheese" may be easier. But he will still understand the word "cheese".
Good luck and have fun.
2007-01-26 03:18:01 · answer #2 · answered by mq1229 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My daugher is a year old almost.....my husband and I speak spanish to each other. I speak English to my daughter, and my husband speaks spanish and english to her.
She is jibberjabbering her own little language right now, and is very communicative. I am not worried in the least about confusing her. Babies are sponges to info, and fall right into learning anything.
Is this a second language that is native to you or hubby, or are you just trying to teach her languages? Do you know this language, or are you learning it right along side her?
Whatever you do will be fine. It can't hurt her.
2007-01-25 21:26:03 · answer #3 · answered by gg 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From birth is fine. Children under 5 learn language far quicker than at any other age.
2007-01-25 21:21:08 · answer #4 · answered by Ritch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd start whenever you want, children have the ability to absorb language very easily, so I don't see it would do any harm to teach him English and something else at the same time.
My kids learnt Italian from the BBC "Muzzy" course, the kits are expensive, but they work brilliantly and my 2 still love watching them.
http://www.early-advantage.com/
Good Luck, and good on you for wanting to give him an opportunity to learn!
2007-01-25 21:21:48 · answer #5 · answered by lululaluau 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sooner the better it won't confuse him. Children are hardwired to learn language but there is a cut off point beyond which it is no longer a natural thing to do and then the grammar gets confused.
2007-01-25 21:33:03 · answer #6 · answered by mummylove 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my brother started learning French and English at the age of 3
2007-01-25 21:24:07 · answer #7 · answered by Donets'k 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would depend on the ability of the child.
When I was doing my sports development degree, we where told not to think in terms of physical age as children develop at a different rate.
I am sure this is not the answer you are looking for, but drawing from what I have been taught, I would have to say whenever your child is ready.
Yea, I know. How do you tell when your child is ready?
2007-01-25 21:22:44 · answer #8 · answered by footynutguy 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I had a hard time with this questiong as well. We moved to Italy just after my son's second birthday, and he really wasn't talking all that much. Just a please and thank you and apple juice, really. So, my rule with him was to speak Italian to him out of the house. When we went to the grocery, "we'd" (ok i'd) speak Italian. When we went for coffee--Italian. It helped that he wasn't being really "taught", just hearing it outside. We never had a problem with him mixing up his Italian and English, and we never really forced the Italian. I would just give him commands in Italian, or ask him if he wanted a candy, things like that. He would mostly reply in English, which was fine, but it was just hilarious the first time he told me, "may i have a cookie please?" in Italian at the coffee shop. So, have fun with it, and good luck!
2007-01-29 14:18:34 · answer #9 · answered by Karri 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
nah.. start now! kids are good in learning languages..
2007-01-25 22:53:27 · answer #10 · answered by Jigz 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋