Compared to first language acquisition, the process of second language acquisition is not linear: it is more like a zigzag path. Young Children Stay up to date with research-based, teacher-focused articles on birth to age 8 in our award-winning, peer-reviewed journal. A parent’s attitude toward language learning is crucial to a child’s success, say language teachers and researchers. Though most scholars use the terms “second language learning” and “language acquisition” interchangeably, actually these terms differ. Not only will it help them communicate when they are abroad and to do well in languages at school, but it’s also believed to benefit them in other developmental areas, from becoming more open-minded to exercising their brain. Second Language Learning. Plus, the music and repetition will help a child remember. Volunteer your time and/or skills in your child’s classroom. Regardless of age. Journal of Educational Psychology 1999;91(1):29-43. If your child is learning a second language sequentially, select a program that allows children to continue to learn academic concepts in their native language as they gradually learn the second or new language (Copple & Bredekamp, 2008). The bottom line is that learning a second language at an early age is not bad – as many would think. … How important is memory to a child’s ability to learn a second language? Dressler C, Kamil M. First- and second-language literacy. Not only does this help a child become accustomed to the language—it helps a parent begin to learn too. Language learning refers to the formal learning of a language in the classroom. For these children, second languages are rather learned than acquired. Learn about and purchase the best books and resources to support young children's learning and development. That we already discussed. Choosing to teach your child a second language from an early age can benefit them in so many ways. In fact, a young child can learn a second language faster than an adult can learn the same language. Programs designed to mimic the learning methods of children are also a … Learning a foreign language is good for your brain. And parents don’t always recognize the value of learning a second language in a changing world, says Marty Abbott, director of education for the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages. Adults have a more difficult time adapting the pronunciation of a foreign language, and so sound less competent than a child who has the ability to speak a second language with the proper accent (see Reference 2). "The only way to learn a language is to make quite a bit of effort on a daily basis." This helps children learn groups of phrases in the target language rather than just words. Now, if you read that article, you saw that there are studies that show how bilingual children outperform monolingual children in math, social studies, reading, memory tests, and many other areas. It is true that the younger a child begins to learn a second language, the better their pronunciation. Shutterstock. Language Learning 1999;49(2):183-217. Comeau L, Cormier P, Grandmaison E, Lacroix D. A longitudinal study of phonological processing skills in children learning to read in a second language.