Children who learn a second language at a very early age will also be stronger in their mother language. That’s according to Francis Kutschruiter, who gives English lessons to toddlers in the Dutch town of Ede.
The Netherlands is lagging behind other European countries when it comes to giving foreign language tuition to primary school pupils. Alexander Pechtold, leader of the D66 political party, thinks that all children should start learning English as toddlers.
In the Netherlands, learning English is only compulsory for children aged 10 and above. Of the 7000 primary schools in the country, 300 are already teaching English to toddlers. A survey by the University of Groningen shows that giving English lessons to infants improves their linguistic competence and has a positive effect on their command of other languages, including Dutch.
Juf Francis encountered toddlers at the Dutch school in Singapore who spoke Dutch to their father, Malaysian to their mother, and English at school. “For toddlers that’s no problem. They might perhaps use three languages in one sentence, but that phase is soon over.”
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A similar study came out of Spain. In bilingual schools not only did the students score stronger on Spanish tests, but in also in other subjects like maths and science too. Learning a foreign language from very early on is vital for learning a new language. In Spain a lot of time is spent on grammar and what is needed is an English speaking course. But as someone else here said, it is never too late too start.
Infants can learn up to five or six languages at the same time. There appears to be a prejudiced way of thinking in the Netherlands that tends to prohibit Dutch children from learning foregin languages simultaneously. My child (a non-Dutch citizen) is currently learning both Dutch and English simultaneously. Dutch is the langauge of the day care and play group while English is the language of the home and some social settings. On BabyTV, there is both Dutch and English--though internet TV is almost exclusively English. When old enough--say five or six years--I hope to add Chinese to this mixture of languages. Children can learn up to five or six languages. Once above fourteen, they loose this ability.
This is really impressive ! I got four childs,it make me wonder if I should teach them already a second langage.
I read about this before and the first time I learned about teaching foreign languages to infants I thought it's a crazy idea. Apparently I was wrong, infants have an impressive power of absorbing new information and now I dare to say that their age is perfect for learning foreign languages. If I started learning English since infant I wouldn't have to need help from my esl tutors now. On the other hand it's never too late to improve my English skills specially when I know it will help me in my career.
My husband is spanish and I am american, our kiddo did not have any problem learning both the languages, he's equally good in both! So, that proves the kids are way better than the grown ups to learn things easily!
Nicole
freestyle
We have three language system in India: English, Hindi, and the state language, in the primary school. Later students can go Sanskrit. Indian kids have no problem, so even Dutch kids won't have any!
Infants can learn up to five or six languages at the same time. There appears to be a prejudiced way of thinking in the Netherlands that tends to prohibit Dutch children from learning foregin languages simultaneously. My child (a non-Dutch citizen) is currently learning both Dutch and English simultaneously. Dutch is the langauge of the day care and play group while English is the language of the home and some social settings. On BabyTV, there is both Dutch and English--though internet TV is almost exclusively English. When old enough--say five or six years--I hope to add Chinese to this mixture of languages. Children can learn up to five or six languages. Once above fourteen, they loose this ability.
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