Learning languages in nursery and kindergarten

Knowledge of two foreign languages, or in other words – bilingualism is a huge advantage, especially now. This ability can turn out to be a magical gateway to a rewarding job, frequent travel, and even better earnings in the future. In that case, is it worth investing in learning languages “from the cradle”?

The development of speech as a child – even the mother tongue – takes several years, and this is not the piece of cake. So far, the only and probably the most effective method of learning is constant repetition and memorization. However, this does not change the fact that this process can be very creative, only if we take care of it properly. And what if we want our children to adapt to two languages at the same time?

It is good to keep in mind that children have a special gift for quick and effective learning. In the first years of life, the child is particularly susceptible to acquiring the ability to understand and use language. Although it may seem to us that a two-or three-year-old should not be burdened with learning several languages, it has been scientifically proven that for a child this is not a major problem or difference. Toddlers perfectly combine objects and actions with words, resulting in a natural development of understanding and thinking in a foreign language. They also perfectly imitate new sounds, thanks to which they form the basis of correct pronunciation. They just learn instinctively. At this stage, the child does not need to know that the phrase is written differently than it is pronounced. Consider the fact that a child who starts learning early does not have problems with remembering and searching for information in later years. They often do better in school than their peers.

The most effective method of encouraging such young minds to learn other languages is learning through play (colorful pictures, funny songs, poems, card games, etc.). Then neither the parent nor the child is exhausted by excessive mental work, which is undoubtedly a study.

What does it look like outside the house?

To activate all these natural processes, kindergarten should provide children with the opportunity for daily and engaging contact with a foreign language. In Non-public bilingual kindergartens and nurseries KIDS&Co. we place particular emphasis on developing natural bilingualism in our students through daily and all-day contact with the English language.

In standard kindergartens, language classes are limited to 1-2 hours and separated from other activities, which certainly does not encourage good fun. The English education program in KIDS&Co. is also related to the Polish-language education program, and their contents are very into each other. The difference is that our preschoolers get to know the world around them in two languages. It is worth noting here that according to our program, in addition to the Polish–speaking teacher, the group is always taken care of by an English-speaking teacher with whom children communicate only in English. Such a way of learning is called language immersion. This method is recognized by many teachers as one of the most effective. After some time of its systematic use, the baby’s brain should “switch” to ” thinking in a foreign language.” According to some studies, children taught by this method reach 11 years old with natural bilingualism, almost identical to the level of language communication native speakers have. The only condition is to start learning the English language according to the principles of immersion, at the latest at the age of 4 years.

In kindergartens KIDS&Co. while teaching a foreign language, in addition to immersion, we also use the British method of phonics, which develops the interests and abilities of children, and, above all, causes faster memorization (mainly in groups by the age of 6). Thanks to this method, children learn to connect syllables, and then successfully read. By carefully selecting all the elements and appropriate educational aids and arranging them around topics that arouse children’s curiosity in KIDS&Co. we have created a program with which toddlers will learn English, literally, in the blink of an eye!

Despite all this knowledge, still many experts believe that we should not overdo it and demand from the child something that exceeds his capabilities. It is better to balance emotions and realistically approach to learning foreign languages. Some experts believe that even if learning a foreign language by the age of six does not allow observing spectacular effects, it is worth starting and continuing learning as early as possible.

However, this does not change the fact that as parents and teachers, we should try to find the golden mean – you can start learning in the early years of life, but nothing will happen if you decide to introduce a foreign language to your toddler gradually, without haste. After all, we should all care, about the welfare of the child. 😊

Find out more about natural bilingualism in our kindergartens and nurseries KIDS&Co. welcome to the website: www.kids-co.pl.