If you’re South Asian and raising your children in Australia, they may already speak two languages. Or, if you’ve been in the country for a while or are of South Asian descent but haven’t learnt your parents’ language, you may have found it easier to raise your child in English alone.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with either of these options and whichever language(s) you choose in which to converse with your child is entirely up to you. But there are certain advantages to teaching a second or even a third language to your child at an early age.
So if you’re undecided as to whether or not you want to teach your child your native language or another language altogether, here are some of the benefits for you to consider.
It stimulates the mind
Linguistic development in any language helps to stimulate your child’s mind and aid their overall brain development. Teaching another language at this stage is an additional stimuli and further aids brain development. This not only helps their cognitive development from a young age but also lays the foundations for academic learning in future. And as an added bonus, some studies suggest that it helps train a child’s ear for music too!
Whether at home or at a child language development centre, teaching your child a foreign language in early childhood could end up helping them throughout their school life and into adulthood.
It improves academic performance
Some research suggests that people who are bilingual are better at focusing and multitasking than monolinguals. Even babies younger than one years old who are exposed to multiple languages begin to develop these vital skills.
Studies in the US also suggest that children who have studied foreign languages perform better in standard English and Maths tests. Bilingual kids also reportedly tend to master reading skills sooner than monolingual kids and often have a firmer grasp over grammar in their native language too.
It encourages social development
Your child’s social and emotional development is just as important as their cognitive and academic development. And learning a new language is just as beneficial for your child’s social development as it is for their cognitive skills.
Learning another language helps foster a positive attitude towards other languages and other cultures. It encourages them to explore and understand cultures or backgrounds other than their own. It encourages empathy as it requires children to think about things from another perspective in order to learn. Learning a new skill also gives them a sense of confidence which is vital to their overall emotional development.
One major benefit of teaching your child your native language or the language of your parents is that it will help them to understand, appreciate and feel connected to the culture and the Asian part of their identity despite growing up in a different country.
It will pay off later in life
OK, so this one requires a bit of thinking ahead, but have you ever wished that you could speak a second, third or even fourth language? It’s no secret that learning another language is a lot easier when you’re younger and learning a third language is a lot easier if you already speak two. So why not give your child the opportunity to learn while they’re still an information sponge?
Having another language can also open so many opportunities for your child later in life. Being able to speak a language like Spanish for example opens up an entire continent of opportunities to travel, explore and meet new people. Having multiple language under their belt will also open up different job opportunities for your child and could also enable them to get paid higher salaries.
In Summary…
Learning a second or third language can give your child so many opportunities. The social, emotional and academic benefits can help them throughout their school career and well into adulthood. So even if your child won’t thank you for it now, or even in the near future, they’ll definitely be grateful for the opportunity to learn a new language and will thank you for it later in life!
