Table of contents:
- 1. Don't speak in baby language
- 2. Sing, read, and play
- 3. Father and mother speak two different languages
- 4. Make sure you are fluent too
- 5. Continue to use so as not to forget
- 6. Use technology
- 7. Visit grandparents grandparents
Becoming a bilingual person builds brain power. According to a Singapore study of six-month-old babies, babies who understand two languages are likely to have better learning and memory skills than those who only understand one language. Here are 7 ways you can do every day to introduce your child to their mother tongue and other languages:
1. Don't speak in baby language
Even though babies cannot speak a word yet, the first year of their life is the most important time to build the foundation of language. Babies process the structure and meaning of language long before they begin to learn to speak. So go ahead and chatter your baby with real words and chat. Even if your baby can't understand the meaning of these words, the part of his brain that regulates speech and language is stimulated when we talk to him. The more language they hear, the more developed that part of the brain becomes.
When he has started learning to speak, he will be able to understand the differences in some of the languages that you speak to him. Children who are exposed to two languages from birth will find it easier to master the two languages fluently. However, if the introduction of this foreign language has only started since the baby is 6 months old, it will be a little more difficult for him to distinguish between A and B.
Research also shows that as babies grow, their adaptation to sound and language will continue to decline. Over 6-7 years, it is very difficult for him to make connections with a new language. Therefore, it is more difficult to teach other languages to children in primary school, than it is to children of old age preschool or even a toddler.
2. Sing, read, and play
Make your little one interested in fun activities. Fill your home with music and singing, chat, read books aloud, and so on. When words are linked in rhyme and melody as in poetry or song, children will remember them more easily. So, please "chatter" talk to your baby, sing along to your favorite songs and children, and introduce your little one to various vocabulary and language expressions in a fun way. As your baby grows older, expand your activities to artistic activities such as dancing, calligraphy, and so on.
3. Father and mother speak two different languages
The most important thing to remember to make a child speak two languages fluently is: make sure he has been exposed to the two languages for the same amount of time. So, if you speak Indonesian and your partner speaks English, be consistent with your children in their respective languages. You always speak Indonesian, and your partner always talks to the children in English. This made it easier for him to distinguish between Indonesian (“the language used by the mother”) and which was English (“the language used by the father”). Of course for this to work properly, mom and dad have to spend as much time as their little one.
4. Make sure you are fluent too
You want your child to be fluent in English. But what if you're not very good either? Dont worry. You can study together with the child, and show enthusiasm in learning the language. You can take language courses, or study together with children using materials such as children's song CDs in English, bilingual story books, or watch English films and videos with Indonesian subtitles. In this way, while your child is learning, you are also learning.
5. Continue to use so as not to forget
Teaching a new language to school-age children is usually a little more difficult, perhaps because they are not interested, or if they have given up first because the language is considered “difficult”. But this is usually just because they are not used to it. After being exposed to the language many times, he will automatically absorb it without realizing it, and learning the language will be easier. Children are very adaptable and cognitively flexible, so they are quick to pick up on the meaning of a new language and feel more comfortable with the language more quickly than adults who learn a language. The key is: keep using. Make sure that the language is not only learned in class or in courses, but is also used in the child's daily life.
6. Use technology
Videos on YouTube about learning languages for children can also be an effective tool. Also look for videos that introduce the country's culture, not just the language, if you and your partner come from two different cultural backgrounds and want your little one to get to know it from the start.
7. Visit grandparents grandparents
If you and your husband speak different languages, take advantage of family members from both sides to help teach their language to your little one. Raising a bilingual child is a task for the whole family, although the main challenge lies with the parents. Spending time with grandmothers and grandparents who speak a language different from the one used at home can also help your little one get used to the language.
