2 of 27

Write now Article Tools

My children's paediatrician gave me a great piece of advice when it came to children and the skill of learning languages. This advice led me to believe that children from the moment of birth can be taught more than one language. Parents, grandparents and the close family members should play an import in helping the child learn new languages.

Everyone in the family, must approve and agree to help the child learn a different language, it works best when there are family members that speak different languages.

Our pediatrician believed that everyone in the family had to choose the language that they spoke best and they would then speak to the child in the chosen language always.

This was the main and most important issue in the process of teaching a young child different languages. The child then associates that language with the person who speaks it and can understand that that language is different from those spoken by other members of the family. This helps the child in keeping the languages separate, it also helps the child not to mix up the different languages. The family members can speak to each other in any language, but they should speak to the child in the chosen language.

I followed this process with my three boys, where I would always speak to them in English, my husband would always speak to them in French and my parents who spoke neither French nor English well, spoke to them in Italian. We had a Spanish neighbor who also did not speak the other languages well and would speak to them in Spanish.

My three boys speak fluently in English, French, and Italian, they are also able to understand and communicate very well in Spanish. The languages are taught without much fuss or hard work, it simply becomes routine and second nature to all.

Today my boys are very thankful for speaking the different languages and they often comment how when traveling you will always find someone who speaks one of the languages. I have also noticed they were always very open to learning other languages and the three of them seem to dabble a little in Greek, Portuguese, and even a little Arab.
The more languages one speaks the more one opens the doors to understanding the different cultures in the world and ultimately this leads to respect for all.

Learn more about this author, Sara Reda Vinci.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about When children should learn a second language?
We want to hear your view. Write now!