Learning a Second Language for Kids

Learning a second language is possible at almost any given age. In fact, research suggests that the best time to introduce a new language [1] to a child is from birth to age 10. In turn, this means finding the best Australian school for learning languages can significantly boost your child’s bilingual skills.

In this day and age, a second language is close to a necessity when it comes to our professional and cultural growth. So, having your child learn more than one language will not only give them confidence in communicating but also set them up for success in their future endeavors.

What Is the Best Age for a Child to Learn a Second Language?

Kids are encouraged to start their journey to learning a new language before age 10.

When babies are born, they are immediately able to hear sounds and make them. But what they eventually master are those they hear most often. For the record, English has about 44 phonemes, which are the sounds a language uses. Other languages may utilise fewer or more phonemes, but not one language uses all 150 sounds.

Children are said to get attuned to the sounds of their native language in their first few months, which means that parenting does play a critical factor in language learning. After all, these kids are learning not by reading or writing, but through listening and speaking.

Your daily interactions with your kid offer some of the best opportunities to expand their vocabulary. When a toddler says ‘I go play’, you might respond and ask them about the game they want to play, and so on.

When it comes to studies, Australia is historically known for its multicultural society. So, a second language has long been a staple in many households and communities.

Schools often have a strong selection of second language acquisition studies. And while these are usually not compulsory, it’s a luxury to have such learning options. The challenge is finding the best schools in Australia for foreign language study.

What Is the Best Way for a Child to Learn a Second Language?

Language teaching has to start at home. But constant immersion is also a must.

Therefore, finding the right school that can develop your child’s language skills is essential for their continuous development, especially for second language learning. One of the most effective ways to master spoken language is through classroom learning, where language instruction is intentional and meaningful.

It also offers a new environment for kids to learn foreign languages without judgment, particularly as they attempt to learn new words and complex grammar structures.

On the other hand, Australia is also known for having English as a second language (ESL) learning programs, which cater to a significant percentage of the population for whom English is not their first, or sometimes even their second language.

If you’re looking to learn more about the best Australian schools nearby in your location, click here.

How Does a Child Learn the Second Language?

Much like how kids learn their first language, learning their second language comes naturally through listening, mimicking, and eventually speaking. It’s normal to have a few mix-ups along the way, since these can be improved through practice and communication.

The consensus among experts, including the Modern Language Journal, is that children who learn a second language at a young age have displayed greater language proficiency in their target language.

It’s recommended to start language education during the early stages of childhood so that the kid is more equipped to develop their bilingual communication skills as they enter formal foreign language studies.

Common Strategies for Teaching a Second Language at Home

Daily interactions

Aside from having conversations using the target language, you can use creative ways to practice language proficiency. For example, you can watch foreign language films to introduce your child to how the foreign language is used in various settings.

Reading together

Written text is a great way for kids to expand their vocabulary and understand sentence structure in the target language. As a parent, you can set aside time to read together, even just sections of literature, on a regular basis. Even better, you can provide quick feedback and corrections during each session.

If you’re looking for tips on teaching kids how to read, click here.

Language learning apps

Language learning apps are gaining a more prominent role in language acquisition in both homes and schools. Although these apps have always been popular among self-learners, students, and parents are now finding enough value in these apps for teaching different languages.

Music and film

Music and film offer plenty of opportunities to learn a language without feeling like it’s a ‘study’ session. Parents can be intentional in their use of second language media to expand their children’s vocabulary and cultural understanding. As a bonus, your kids will be able to listen and see native speakers interact, which adds nuance to how the target language is used in a particular scenario.

How Long Does it Take for A Child to Learn a Second Language?

Learning a language varies per person. In particular, kids learn at different speeds, which can be further influenced by other factors such as the learning environment and the learner’s attitude.

In addition, according to Cambridge [4], primary and secondary students learn languages differently.

For example, primary school children need strong support in learning their first and second languages. So, kids who practice at home or already have a strong foundation in their native language can have an easier time picking up another language.

Teenagers, on the other hand, can be quite invested in exploring personalities and identities. Therefore, educators find a lot of opportunities to incorporate pop culture into their discussions.

Finding Schools in Australia

If you’re looking for quick help in finding the best schools near your area, we recommend My Choice Schools’ list of Australian schools, which has over 10,000 schools in primary and secondary education.

Using the platform, you can easily filter schools according to your location, or hundreds of other filters, to find your desired learning environment. Notably, you will also find relevant data about recent academic results, parent reviews, school equity, and student-to-teacher ratio to help you get an initial idea on how the institution is performing and being received in its community.

References:

[1] Ghasemi and Hashemi. Foreign Language Learning During Childhood. World Conference on Educational Technology Researches (2011)

[2] Cambridge, How Children Learn Languages, Cambridge University Press and Assessment (2024*)