Why Learn A Foreign Language?
You have certainly heard of the saying The more languages you speak, the more of a person you are. Advances in technology have enabled us to keep in touch with people all over the world through the Internet, to travel and explore new countries, cultures, customs, traditions... When we buy a new product the users manual is often written in foreign languages. It shows us that the communication in foreign languages is a daily necessity. Not to mention the music, movies, series (soaps), commercials (e.g. Kinder Bueno, Rio mare, etc.)... And what about a good job? It is implied that you know at least two foreign languages, but if you know more you will be appreciated more (and probably be paid more).
When is the best time to start learning foreign languages?
When a child is familiar with his/her mother tongue, with certain basic vocabulary and grammar, it is time for a new language. The exceptions are those children who are bilingual from the birth and live in bilingual cultural environment. In such cases it is for the best that each parent talks to the child in his/her mother tongue. In that way the child learns two languages at the same time and will not mix them up. The children who have only one mother tongue are ready to learn another language at the age of 4, which depends on the child (concentration, will, environment, psychomotorics, readiness to revise, listen, etc.)
Between the age of 0 and 10 a child can still learn most of the sounds. When a child is born, he/she can learn all the sounds and that ability deteriorates over the years. In this period it is easier to adopt intonation, rhythm, structure and accent of a language, almost automatically. Of course, that depends on internal and external factors, childs language environment, how much time is on his/her disposal, learning methods, didactic materials and childs motivation for learning a foreign language. The conclusion is that there are no genetic predispositions for adopting a language and it is much easier for children to learn a foreign language than for adults.
Between the age of 4 and 6 the best method for learning is through playing. The difference between adults and children is that children only learn something if they are interested in it, if the way of learning is fun, if they act, sing or play. Adults learn even if something is not interesting, but they know it is useful and will enable them to achieve certain goals. It is important to children that learning is organized, preferably at the same time and of same duration.
Why start learning languages at an early age?
Because learning a foreign language at an early age is a good start for flawless pronunciation in the future, it has positive influence on intellectual capability, stimulates and enriches spiritual development, stimulates flexibility in thinking, better sense for a language, improves listening skills, tolerance, and sets foundations for comprehending and respecting other cultures , it has a positive effect on understanding a mother tongue, enables contact with other people who do not speak the same language, creates good basis for language classes at school, enhances business possibilities in many professional fields.
How to learn?
Children do not even know when and how they learned their mother tongue. The same should be with the adults when they learn a foreign language. Of course, it is very difficult to achieve that because adults ask for explanations, reasons, the point of learning, and children do not. Children learn their mother tongue unconsciously, emotionally, the process is deep and lasts longer, and they use both hemispheres of the brain. Adults learn foreign language consciously, rationally, willingly, however, it is not long-lasting, and it has to be revised constantly.
Which side of the brain is used when learning a foreign language?
As we all know there are two sides (hemispheres) of the brain: the left side and the right side. The left side is logical, analytical, full of rules, grammar etc. With the right side of the brain we are seeing and perceiving things, uniting the whole, without details. It was believed earlier that learning a foreign language is connected to the left side of the brain (grammar, rules etc.), however, it was discovered that we cannot learn without the right side of the brain, thus todays tendency is uniting the both sides for achieving the desired goals. Firstly, we use the right side of the brain when we perceive something globally, then the left side is included and explains that analytically. That is the easiest way to learn the mother tongue and the easiest way to learn a foreign language. It is known that some people use one side of the brain more than the other one (ratio 40:60 etc.). The teacher has to understand his student and find out which method of learning suits him/her the best and adjust to it. Not completely, but to lead gradually towards certain goals in a way that suits the student the best.
When is the best time to start learning foreign languages?
When a child is familiar with his/her mother tongue, with certain basic vocabulary and grammar, it is time for a new language. The exceptions are those children who are bilingual from the birth and live in bilingual cultural environment. In such cases it is for the best that each parent talks to the child in his/her mother tongue. In that way the child learns two languages at the same time and will not mix them up. The children who have only one mother tongue are ready to learn another language at the age of 4, which depends on the child (concentration, will, environment, psychomotorics, readiness to revise, listen, etc.)
Between the age of 0 and 10 a child can still learn most of the sounds. When a child is born, he/she can learn all the sounds and that ability deteriorates over the years. In this period it is easier to adopt intonation, rhythm, structure and accent of a language, almost automatically. Of course, that depends on internal and external factors, childs language environment, how much time is on his/her disposal, learning methods, didactic materials and childs motivation for learning a foreign language. The conclusion is that there are no genetic predispositions for adopting a language and it is much easier for children to learn a foreign language than for adults.
Between the age of 4 and 6 the best method for learning is through playing. The difference between adults and children is that children only learn something if they are interested in it, if the way of learning is fun, if they act, sing or play. Adults learn even if something is not interesting, but they know it is useful and will enable them to achieve certain goals. It is important to children that learning is organized, preferably at the same time and of same duration.
Why start learning languages at an early age?
Because learning a foreign language at an early age is a good start for flawless pronunciation in the future, it has positive influence on intellectual capability, stimulates and enriches spiritual development, stimulates flexibility in thinking, better sense for a language, improves listening skills, tolerance, and sets foundations for comprehending and respecting other cultures , it has a positive effect on understanding a mother tongue, enables contact with other people who do not speak the same language, creates good basis for language classes at school, enhances business possibilities in many professional fields.
How to learn?
Children do not even know when and how they learned their mother tongue. The same should be with the adults when they learn a foreign language. Of course, it is very difficult to achieve that because adults ask for explanations, reasons, the point of learning, and children do not. Children learn their mother tongue unconsciously, emotionally, the process is deep and lasts longer, and they use both hemispheres of the brain. Adults learn foreign language consciously, rationally, willingly, however, it is not long-lasting, and it has to be revised constantly.
Which side of the brain is used when learning a foreign language?
As we all know there are two sides (hemispheres) of the brain: the left side and the right side. The left side is logical, analytical, full of rules, grammar etc. With the right side of the brain we are seeing and perceiving things, uniting the whole, without details. It was believed earlier that learning a foreign language is connected to the left side of the brain (grammar, rules etc.), however, it was discovered that we cannot learn without the right side of the brain, thus todays tendency is uniting the both sides for achieving the desired goals. Firstly, we use the right side of the brain when we perceive something globally, then the left side is included and explains that analytically. That is the easiest way to learn the mother tongue and the easiest way to learn a foreign language. It is known that some people use one side of the brain more than the other one (ratio 40:60 etc.). The teacher has to understand his student and find out which method of learning suits him/her the best and adjust to it. Not completely, but to lead gradually towards certain goals in a way that suits the student the best.
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