You’re not alone if you’re wondering how kids can learn a foreign language. This is the most common question for parents who want to raise bilingual children. To help you teach your child a second language, I’m sharing this 5-stepaction plan to jump-start your family’s learning journey at home.
How to teach your child a foreign target language
When giving advice on teaching a second language to kids, I prefer to use the term “target language” rather than “foreign language.” The words we choose can have a powerful impact on our mindset.
Target suggests that goals are in place to teach a child a second language. It primes your mind to prioritize the minority language. Meanwhile, foreign implies that the language is strange and unfamiliar.
Due to our family’s heritage, the target languages are Chinese and Korean. To make these languages feel familiar and less foreign, I gradually implemented five key steps into our children’s daily routine.
However, the teaching steps can apply to any second, third, or fourth language.
After reading these tips, download the printable action plan at the end of the post!
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1. Speak the target language at home with kids
If you’re bilingual and want your child to learn a second language, the first thing to do is to start talking. The sooner, the better, but it’s never too late to start.
Parents often feel uncomfortable about switching to the minority language at first. Take a deep breath and have faith through the initial awkwardness.
Over time, thinking and reflexively replying in the minority language will become a habit. Consistency is key!
If you don’t speak a second language (yet!), consider hiring a caregiver or tutor to teach your family. Check out these ten ways to find a language teacher for kids.
2. Teach your child a second language through songs
3. Learn a second language from audiobooks and videos
Busy parents will appreciate these low-prep tools! For extra language exposure, audiobooks and videos can introduce your child to various native speakers. This is especially true for older children and teens.
Instead of watching TV shows and movies in the dominant language, look for your target language on Netflix, Disney Plus, and Amazon Prime.
In addition to listening to the language, make it obvious to the eyes. If your child can “see” the second language around the room, this can spark curiosity.
When the second language is visible, it can remind kids and parents to speak it.
Look around your home and take note of what labels, signs, and books you see.
5. Teach your child a second language with fun activities
Hands-on experiences make language fun, natural, and memorable for children. When kids are in school full-time, they constantly create new memories with friends in the dominant language.
If we want our kids to learn a second language at home, we need to consider the after-school experience.
What can we do to make it more special?
How can we connect with our children meaningfully in the target language?
Dr. Betty Choi is a Harvard-trained pediatrician and mother on a mission to connect families through language and play. Chalk Academy was inspired by her trials and triumphs with relearning a heritage language and raising bilingual children in a monolingual community. Dr. Choi's advice has been featured in PBS, Parents, Healthline, The Atlantic, and VeryWell.
6 Comments
Like others mentioned, I too find myself getting easily overwhelmed and emotional by the desire (and need) to teach my son the target language (English while living in Finland and being surrounded by Finnish speakers). Thank you so much for good, clear advice! I will use it for sure!
Thanks for this post! It is very helpful. I am trying to teach my children Mandarin as well but it is mostly speaking. They do poorly in reading and writing. Will definitely try your tip #4 and #5! I want them to learn a bit of Filipino as well so this a good post to guide me ^^ Love your blog and instagram account ^^
Hi Jan! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and share. I hope the tips help your kids with learning all languages! Keep me posted on how things go, keep persevering!
Wow this is super helpful! Thanks for breaking it down. I find myself getting overwhelmed, having a short list like this will help me stay focused. Thanks!
Thank you for the kind feedback! I’m so glad to hear that it’s helpful. I also get overwhelmed, but I think succinct, focused to-do lists make goals more attainable! Best of luck to you!
Like others mentioned, I too find myself getting easily overwhelmed and emotional by the desire (and need) to teach my son the target language (English while living in Finland and being surrounded by Finnish speakers). Thank you so much for good, clear advice! I will use it for sure!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience, Emily! I’m so glad to hear that the article was helpful!
Thanks for this post! It is very helpful. I am trying to teach my children Mandarin as well but it is mostly speaking. They do poorly in reading and writing. Will definitely try your tip #4 and #5! I want them to learn a bit of Filipino as well so this a good post to guide me ^^ Love your blog and instagram account ^^
Hi Jan! Thank you so much for taking the time to read and share. I hope the tips help your kids with learning all languages! Keep me posted on how things go, keep persevering!
Wow this is super helpful! Thanks for breaking it down. I find myself getting overwhelmed, having a short list like this will help me stay focused. Thanks!
Thank you for the kind feedback! I’m so glad to hear that it’s helpful. I also get overwhelmed, but I think succinct, focused to-do lists make goals more attainable! Best of luck to you!