Raise a Bilingual Kid By Rachel Morris for www.parents.com

Introducing your child to a second language is easier than you think. And in our world gone global, it’s a supersmart move.

Right now, you may be more focused on getting your baby to utter her first words, never mind what language she says them in. Or if you’re teaching your toddler the alphabet, throwing in the ABCs in Chinese probably isn’t on the agenda. But the perfect time to introduce your child to a foreign language is actually just when she’s learning her first one. “A young child’s brain is wired to pick up language naturally,” says Nancy Rhodes, director of foreign-language education at the Center for Applied Linguistics, in Washington, D.C. “Between birth and puberty, children can learn multiple languages and echo accents easily.”

Not only will a child generally learn a language faster and retain it better than an adult will, but being bilingual actually builds brainpower. Studies have found that knowing another language can improve children’s English verbal skills, problem-solving abilities, and test scores. “Learning early on that an object can be described in more than one way (house, maison, casa), promotes flexibility in thinking and overall creativity,” says Karen MacGilvray, director of education at Language Stars, a children’s language program based in Chicago. “Parents are realizing how important it is to raise their children as global citizens. Inspiring enthusiasm for a second language is the best head start you can give your child.”

Vamos! (Let’s Go!) The best way to introduce a child to a foreign

language is through immersion -- no English translation. If you’re lucky enough to be a bilingual family, seize this opportunity to expose your kid to your native tongue. But you can also sign him up for language classes where babies as young as 6 months sing songs and play games. Or you might hire a babysitter who’s fluent in another tongue. Don’t worry about confusing a pre-talker by introducing foreign words at the same time as she’s learning to speak her primary language. “There doesn’t seem to be any limit to the number of sounds a human mind can store at a young age,” explains Francois Thibaut, director of The Language Workshop for Children, in New York City. “Children have an innate ability to tell one language from another.”

Stop in for a Visit!

The International School of Charlottesville is located at 830 Monticello Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

Our Head of Admissions is Alicia Anderson. Give her a call at 434.284.2880 or email her admissions@theISC.org. She would love to chat with you and arrange a time for you to see all the International School has to offer your child!

www.theISC.org