Families London SW Mar-Apr 2020

Bilingualism
The benefits of learning a new language
We live in an amazing multicultural, multi-national society. In London
alone, where over 300 different languages are spoken, countless families
speak their mother tongue at home and English away from it.
It's so sad to think of a future where
people only communicate by holding
phones in front of each other using a
translation app! There are so many
benefits—both short and long-term—to
learning new languages:
It's fun
Learning a new language really can be lots of
fun. Classes with native speakers, tailored to
different age/ ability groups are best, typically
including games alongside interactive teaching
methods. At the very least, there are plenty of
teaching apps out there if you have the
discipline to log in regularly. Meanwhile, many
people practise their accent and pronunciation
by watching popular TV shows in a different
language.
It promotes culture
When your child is learning Spanish, French,
German, Greek, Mandarin, Polish or Japanese
(the list is endless), they will be able to
communicate with a wider range of people
once they have crafted their new skill. This will
give them an appreciation of different cultures
and a better understanding of the world.
It is enriching
While we already know that it can go far in
sprawling cities like London, your child will also
find it enriching when they go abroad. Even
just starting with please, thank you, good
morning or hullo, in my experience hotel and
restaurant owners appreciate our efforts to use
their language, and are particularly charmed by
children's attempts. This means that holidays
aren't just about sun, sea and sand but another
adventure where young ones can hone their
skills.
It helps with education
Studies have shown that foreign language
learning improves the function of the brain,
which can benefit other school subjects too.
In particular, problem solving is one area that
should develop, making it easier for your child
to excel in other 'pattern' subjects such as
maths.
Your child's English can improve
In many cases, your child's grasp of English will
improve after they have learnt a new language.
This is because they will understand root
words, syntax and grammar. In turn, this will
boost your child's vocabulary and writing skills,
which should be noticeable when they get
older and start taking important exams such as
GCSEs and A-Levels.
Other languages come more naturally
Once your child knows an additional language,
they will find it easier to learn a third language
in the future. There's no telling how many
languages your child could know by the time
they are in their twenties.
It can lead to wider career options
Many employers take notice of foreign
language qualifications because they reflect
self-discipline. Meanwhile, some jobs will even
specify that they require a bilingual candidate
because it means they can do business with
people from overseas. Essentially, multilingualism
is just another skill that will (one day)
make your child's CV stand out.
Start young for success
It is known that as we become older, it
becomes harder for the brain to absorb new
information like it once could. Eager young
brains are well suited to taking in and
understanding new languages, so the sooner—
the better! While most children will be able to
grasp the skill from as young as three, the
majority will still benefit by starting their
linguistic journey before they reach secondary
school.
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March/April 2020 • Families South West 21