Learning the English Language for Kids: A Parent's Guide

Learning the English Language for Kids: A Parent's Guide
Photo : Learning the English Language for Kids: A Parent's Guide

Do you have a child that you have been eager to enroll in English classes? Are you wondering when the best time for them to learn is? Are you worried that giving them another class will affect their academic performance? As a parent, it is natural to worry if you are doing what is best for your kids. It is also natural to think about ways to help your child gain necessary skills that are undoubtedly useful as they grow -- like the ability to speak the English language.

In this article, we will be talking about every information you need about enrolling a child in an English class: the best time for them to learn, its benefits, the most appropriate method, and how to find the most reliable English learning platform.

The best time for a child to learn English

If you come to think about it, learning your native language is not that hard, right? It seems like we have always known how to speak our mother tongue. It is because we did not actually "learn" it; instead, we "acquired" the language.

According to research, the best age for children to learn English or any secondary language is during their critical periods. It is said that in child development, there are two critical periods: the first one is between two and seven years old, while the second one is during adolescence (10-19 years old). During these periods, they will learn how to speak in English as if they are native speakers fluently. Of course, it is believed that the earlier the child gets to learn it, the easier he or she can acquire it.

As they grow older, especially after 18, language learning would be more difficult because of neurological and social factors. Obviously, they can still achieve that skill; however, they have to use a different approach as they are no longer capable of reproducing the language acquisition processes that children use. They are also bound by time and other responsibilities. Because of this, they may be able to learn the basics of the English language, but they are less likely to speak it fluently like a native speaker.

In short, if you want your children to speak fluent English, start them as early as possible, preferably from age 2 to 10. 

How learning the English language benefits a child 

Aside from the ease of learning the English language at an early age, another reason to start them young is that children can also reap several benefits from speaking secondary and tertiary languages.

Here are the advantages of learning English for children:

1. Develops cognitive skills

A child's cognitive development focuses on their ability to solve a problem, acquire new knowledge, enhance their memory, and learn to listen and focus. With language learning, they will be able to achieve these skills quickly.

2. Improves their academic performance and standing

As they learn the English language, their intellect improves. Besides having a child's cognitive skills improve, which govern their ability to learn and memorize, it will be easy for them to read and cite English resources, which are massively used in the academe.

3. Boosts a child confidence

They will not realize this soon, but once they find out the advantages of knowing more than one language, including English, they will have more faith and confidence in themselves.
Enhances communication skill
As your child learns the universal language, their social circle is likely to widen. They become comfortable talking to other people or speaking out in large groups.

4. Great for character development

The first ten years of a child are the prime years where their character starts to develop. Learning the English language can influence them to become more aware of others and their culture. It can instill open-mindedness, respect, curiosity, kindness, and more.

5. Increases the number of resources they can look into

The more languages they know, the more resources they can access. Most academic books are written in English -- not to mention all those entertainment films, television shows, informative videos, and books.

6. Future opportunities

A child who is fluent in English is more likely to have better and global employment opportunities once they graduate from college. Excellent English communication skills can also help one to get into a good university.

7. Decreases the possibility of brain disorders

Learning a second language has also been proven to help decrease the chance of dementia and memory loss.

8. Online English tutoring for children

The best way for a child to learn English is through a one-on-one session. Fortunately, there are now online tutoring platforms that offer English lessons that are constructed for kids. Your child will be able to take them without clashing with their academic schedule. With the thousands of English tutor online, you can indeed find one that can accommodate your child's free time. These platforms are user-friendly and accessible as long as you have a working device and an internet connection.

Compared to in-person English classes where there are multiple students, an online tutor on a one-on-one course can give more focus to your child and correct possible mistakes. They are also trained to specifically deal with students that are younger and more likely to be distracted. It is ensured that every class is engaging to the child to keep on paying attention and attend the session.

The costs of online English tutoring classes are noticeably more affordable than those face-to-face ones as you can pay per session. They can also be more cost-efficient since you no longer have to travel and commute to school. However, rates vary depending on the tutor's experience and proficiency-those who have been longer in the industry and are more qualified charge higher rates. The good thing is you can freely choose the tutor that you think suits your child's personality and learning mechanisms.

Find the best online English tutoring platform

Here are some tips that can help you find the best English tutoring platform there is:

  1. Do your research. Always start by looking for resources about English tutoring to serve as a guide as you find the best tutor for your child.

  2. Ask your friends. If you already know someone that had their child taught through online platforms, you can ask them for recommendations.

  3. Find online. You can also visit multiple websites that offer English tutoring.

  4. Contact the website. Ask them about their policies and teaching methods.

  5. Find the right tutor. Scroll through the list of their tutors and check if someone you think can effectively teach your child. They usually have their profiles where their skills and qualifications are written. Reviews from the previous clients are also provided.

  6. Try trial lessons. Some platforms offer these, so make sure to try these out first before settling with a tutor.

You only want the best for your children, so you have to hire the best tutor to teach them the English language. Furthermore, it is crucial to keep in mind that the earlier they acquire English, the better. So, this may be a sign to stop thinking about it and finally enroll your child into a class.

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