How to Teach Your Children a Second Language

Co-authored by Catherine Palomino, MS

Last Updated: May 6, 2021

Given the many benefits of being bilingual, it's natural for parents to want to take the initiative to teach their child a second language. By seeking outside educational resources, and reinforcing the learning process at home, you can help your child pick up a second language in no time!

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Creating a Positive Learning Environment

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Start teaching your child as early as possible. Children have an easier time learning a second language the earlier they begin. If possible, expose your child to a second language when they are still an infant. If any family members are fluent, encourage them to speak the language in the home in order to start immersing your child in the second language.^{[1]
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Be a patient, empathetic teacher. If your child is struggling with the new language, remain patient and supportive, and ask them why they're having a tough time. Make an effort to listen and adapt your teaching approaches to fit their needs. Feel free to take a break for playtime or snacks if your child gets frustrated or has a difficult time paying attention.^{[2]
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Praise your child for their progress. Milestone achievements, such as successfully learning the names of colors or animals, or being able to hold simple conversations, should be rewarded through positive affirmation or small rewards, like candy, toys, or a favorite video. Regular praise will reinforce your child’s desire to learn.

Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Seeking Outside Resources

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Enroll your child in a bilingual immersion school or dual language program. Bilingual immersion is a particularly effective mode of education that incorporates foreign language lessons with traditional academic curriculum. All lessons, as well as conversation and instruction, are delivered in the second language of choice, which allows children to learn through constant exposure.
- Dual language programs provide instruction in all subjects in the students’ native language 1 day, followed by instruction in all subjects in the second language the next day. This is a good alternative to receiving instruction only in a new language.^{[3]
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Invest in a language-learning software. There are many kid-friendly programs available online that will enhance your child’s ability to pick up a second language. Many of these programs are tailor-made to immerse children in a second language through interactive games, videos, and quizzes. This approach is particularly helpful for parents with busy schedules.^{[4]
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Sign up your child for a foreign language classes. Look into options for private classes in your area that will serve your child's age demographic. Private lessons will provide quality instruction, and will allow your child to learn alongside their peers.
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Expose your child to a native speaker. If a family member is fluent in the second language, invite them over, and encourage them to speak exclusively in that language. Consider hiring a nanny or a babysitter who is a native speaker, and who can help further expose your child to the language.^{[5]
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Find extracurricular programs that are conducted in a foreign language. Depending on the language, there are a variety of different extracurricular spaces that can provide your child with a language-immersive environment. Look into different singing, dancing, acting, or cooking classes conducted in a different language.^{[6]
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Take your child on a language-immersive trip. Travel to a foreign country where your family will be fully immersed in the language your child is learning. If you live in a city, consider taking your child to culturally-specific neighborhoods (i.e. Chinatown, Little Italy, etc.), or go out to a culturally-specific restaurant, for an immersive experience closer to home.

Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Reinforcing Lessons at Home

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Imprint the language through repetition. Children learn through exposure, and repeating new words and phrases to your child over and over again will help aid this exposure. Find different rhymes, jokes, or sing-songs that your child enjoys, and repeat them frequently during your lessons. Encourage your child to repeat new vocabulary as well.^{[7]
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Incorporate the language into your daily routines and conversations. The more your child is immersed in the language, the more likely they will be to learn it themselves. Make an effort to speak to your child in the second language outside of lessons, and reward your child when they do so as well.
- When you ask your child to do something (e.g. “Bring me the bowl,” or “Sit down for dinner”) repeat the same commands in the second language.
- Label common household items in the second language, and encourage your child to identify them in the second language.^{[8]
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Expose your child to books and videos in the new language. Allow your child to choose bilingual stories, television programs, and movies that appeal to them, and if possible, look for translations of your child’s favorite books and movies. Use reading and watching time to continue exposing your child to the new language.
- Watching cartoons in a second language can help your child learn that language.
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Sing songs in the new language. Exposure is key when learning another language, and music is an easy way to incorporate a new language into your child's daily routines. Look for kid-friendly CDs with music intended to help aid the learning process, buy pop music in a different language, or make up your own creative jingles that highlight new vocabulary.^{[9]
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Play games in the second language. You can buy a variety of games - including board games, card games, and video games - in multiple languages on the internet. You can also make use of flashcards to create your own games based around vocabulary matching recognition. If your child likes to play with dolls, action figures, or other toys, play with them, and narrate your play in the second language.^{[10]
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- Active children will enjoy games that get them moving while learning the new language (like Simon Says). If your child develops an affinity for a particular game, you can use that game to motivate them to continue learning.

Expert Q&A

Question

I am a teacher of English and have taught all ages for the past 31 years. I have been struggling with a 7-year-old student, Konstadinos, who does not stop moving around during our lesson. Do you have any advice?

Catherine Palomino, MS
Master's Degree, Elementary Education, CUNY Brooklyn College
Catherine Palomino is a former Childcare Center Director in New York. She received her MS in Elementary Education from CUNY Brooklyn College in 2010.

Catherine Palomino, MS

Master's Degree, Elementary Education, CUNY Brooklyn College

Expert Answer

It’s wonderful that you are teaching Konstadinos a second language! It sounds like Konstadinos is a kinesthetic learner and likes to move a lot. You can use his affinity for movement to try to get him more engaged with learning the new language by playing a game using verbs in the second language. The games “Simon says” or “charades” are great ways to begin playing with words in a new language. Be sure to incorporate a lot of movement into your lessons, such as singing songs with movement, perhaps rolling a ball to knock down paper towel ‘bowling pins’ with words written on them, or any other game that you two create together that involves the secondary language. Be sure to avoid long periods of sitting, listening, reading or writing to best keep Konstadinos interested in the new material.
Question

Is 30 to 40 minutes too long to expect to have a child's attention in a foreign language lesson, two times a week?

Community Answer

No. That is fairly standard and a good amount of time.
Question

If I am not a native speaker and speak to the child in both my native and foreign language, will that confuse the child? How will he learn to switch between languages and not mix the two in one phrase or sentence?

Community Answer

Speak in your native language at certain times of the day and the other language at different times. Using a routine will make it clear which language is appropriate.