Jun
I have been observing my 6 Filipino grandchildren and even their parents since they were toddlers and learning how to speak. In my observation, children really learn different languages (dialects and foreign) faster and better than adults. I even recall an episode of the national Geographic Channel where it dealt with how the brain works and develops when human beings are still very young. According to NatGeo, babies/toddlers recognize sound patterns more receptively than adults, hence better in learning languages.
Here in the Philippines, young Filipino children in the provinces are taught at least two languages – the local dialect and Tagalog. Add to that English, which is the country’s second language. It is not uncommon to see Filipinos to speak 3 languages. Some even speak 5-10. This is brought about by early orientation to different languages spoken by elders and the influence of friends or migration to another province or country.
On the other hand, it was found out that adults learn languages slowly because for many, their brains have absorbed all the information that they can handle. Children, however, are quite the opposite. Their brains are thirsting for knowledge, and absorb languages, such as French, with an astonishing rapidity. Studies show that children learn language skills many times faster than the average adult. Learning to speak French, or any other second language, at an early age is important and has become very popular because globalization is right around the corner.
Because children learn language skills so easily, some parents are introducing a second language to their children themselves, such as French learning, instead of waiting for when they begin school. Studies have shown that a child of about 6 weeks of age can begin to learn small phrases from more than one language.
While no child can speak at that age, when they do speak, they can speak both languages. Because children start learning language skills at birth, they do have the capacity to learn more than one language at once without confusion. Your two year old might speak English, yet can learn how to speak French as well!
Some parents don’t even wait until their children are school aged before teaching them a second language, such as French. Children learn language skills easily at an incredibly young age. Even a child as young as six weeks of age can be taught words from the French vocabulary or other language.
Many people do not believe that a baby can learn how to speak French or even their native language at such a young age, but it is true. The basis for language starts from the very beginning of life. It is just as easy to teach a baby French and English at the same time, as it is to just teach them just their native vernacular. Their brain will absorb both languages with equally amazing competence.
Now, there are even schools designed for babies to help them learn foreign languages. Because of the huge benefits to the child, these schools are now quite popular. Most of these schools have a very high success rate and these facts can be attributed to the fact that children learn language skills so quickly and easily.
Some areas of the world do not offer classes for foreign languages, such as French for babies and small children. For these unlucky people, it would be advisable to start a language program in your own home because learning how to speak French and other languages is such a developmental boost for children.
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Tags: Education, education research, Languages, personal
3 Responses so far to "Studies Show That Children Learn Foreign Languages Better Than Adults"
June 2nd, 2008 at 7:46 pm
Hi. I find your blog interesting and informative. I hope to exchange links with you. let me know. tnx a lot.
Rosilie’s last blog post..My First and Last
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jessie reply on June 3, 2008:
Rosilie,
Just tell me when you have added me already in your blogroll.
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April 22nd, 2009 at 9:21 am
Very interesting post and as a newly certified teacher of English to speaker of other languages I must say that your theory is right but not sure of reason you gave.
Dan Mihaliak’s last blog post..An interesting Facebook Message
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