Below are some ideas and suggestions for parents wishing to support their children in learning languages. For parents looking to learn languages themselves your local libraries are likely to be good sources of reference materials and many local colleges provide evening courses.

If your child’s school does not offer language learning in school time and you would like your child to learn a language, find out if there are any after-school or lunch-time language clubs. If there are, great, check them out, make sure they are suitable, encourage your child to attend a couple of classes and if they like it enrol them.

If there are no local language classes speak with your child’s teachers and see if they have got any suggestions.

Alternatively you or your child’s school can contact annaw@languagesforschools.com and we will see if we can help!

Idea 1: Label objects around the house with the name of the object in the other language- much as you may have done when your child was learning to read e.g. cupboard, cup, glass, door, garden. If the words in the other language have a gender specific preposition include that e.g. la table or la fenêtre.

Idea 2: Introduce other cultures into your home via any route possible e.g. if you are cooking pasta let them know it’s a staple of the diet in Italy, if they are eating a baguette let them know it originally comes from France. Food, music, stories, art… these are all ways to encourage early language learning.

Idea 3: Learn the language yourself- lead by example! If you have been planning to brush up on your French for years and your child is about to start learning it, now is the time for you to get back into it. Your local libraries, bookshops and colleges are good places to try. Alternatively the Open University offers a range of courses.

Idea 4: If you go on holiday abroad, use a few words of the local language and encourage your child and anybody else with you to do the same- not only are you likely to get a better reaction from people (and have a more enjoyable holiday) it will encourage your child to learn a language.

Idea 5: Ask your child’s teacher what you can do to support your child… 

if you would like to introduce languages to your child's primary school or if you have any comments please contact us: contact@languagesforschools.com