English: the best second language for your child to learn

Steffanie Zazulak
Children sat at desks in a classroom, one is smiling and looking to the front of the class
Reading time: 2 minutes

As adult learners, our very motivation for learning English can sometimes hinder our progress because we are focusing too much on the end result. The informal way in which children learn English ¨C through music, games and fun activities ¨C offers an environment where they can learn and practise without worrying about the importance of it all. This relaxed attitude, in turn, gives them confidence in learning English and sets them up for more opportunities in their academic pursuits and future career options.

the positive impact bilingualism has on a child¡¯s cognitive development. Catherine Ford, head teacher of Moreton First Prep School, says that children : ¡°Before children become self-conscious they can try out their newly acquired languages without fear of embarrassment¡±.

Starting the English learning process at a young age will provide the head start that most parents are keen to give their children in life, education and career. More than 77% of parents who were interviewed as part of said they would consider sending their child to study at a university abroad, which involves studying in English.

Educational benefits

The number of students pursuing postgraduate studies overseas continues to rise, reflecting the global nature of education. According to the seeking diverse academic experiences and cultural immersion. One crucial factor in this journey is having the right level of English skills, especially when applying to universities in popular destinations such as the US, UK, and Australia.

Learning English from a young age provides a solid foundation, enabling students to tackle more complex language skills tailored to their academic goals. Traditional English teaching often emphasizes reading, writing, and grammar, but studying abroad offers a unique opportunity to immerse oneself in an English-speaking culture, enhancing speaking and listening skills.

Future career benefits

Mastering English at an early age can be a transformative asset for future career success. English is the lingua franca of business, opening doors to global opportunities and enabling individuals to pursue diverse career paths across borders. As the most widely used language in business worldwide, proficiency in English is a powerful motivator for students aspiring to join global companies.

Bilingualism is becoming increasingly advantageous in the job market, improving employability and making candidates more appealing to employers. , underscoring the competitive edge that language skills provide.

Empowering the next generation

The benefits your children are given by learning English at a young age are invaluable and as they go through life, the possibilities for advancement in their academic and business careers will be wide open. Children are fortunate to have intuitive language learning capabilities from a young age and this is certainly something to capitalize on.

More blogs from ÃÛÌÒapp

  • children with their hands up and their teacher

    What is a Horizontal Syllabus?

    By Andy Lankshear
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    Over the last few years,?I have been reflecting on and developing an approach within my own young learners¡¯ classroom that I call the horizontal syllabus. This is a way to design a unit of study and it is aligned with what we know about how students learn. We know that students require spaced repetition and they need to progress from easier, manageable tasks towards more demanding, independent ones. First, spaced repetition is a memory technique that involves reviewing and recalling information at spaced intervals until learned.?My Disney Stars and Heroes?does this by recycling language throughout its units but horizontal syllabus design can add to this by reviewing vocabulary and phrases every lesson. In essence, it means we don¡¯t move from one page to the next (a vertical syllabus), but rather we revisit and build upon each page as we go through the unit.

    In this blog, I will focus on the input stage of this, which I call extended input. It comprises of conveying meaning, segmentation, elocution, checking pronunciation and critical engagement with the vocabulary.

    For my upcoming webinar (August 24th), and in a further two blogs, I will also look at output and assessment and how to put it all together in a horizontal syllabus for a specific unit of My Disney Stars and Heroes. Let¡¯s look at the stages of extended input.