Language learning is an exciting adventure, and when it comes to learning a foreign language from an early age, the possibilities are endless. Remember how you learned to speak? By listening, over and over again, imitating, getting it wrong and trying again – what we call natural absorption. That’s the concept behind « Bilingues du Monde »: to offer children a method of learning a language at an early age by listening, through natural absorption. Discover how children are veritable linguistic sponges, and how this extraordinary ability can shape their linguistic journey.
The power of absorption from an early age
When children are exposed to a foreign language from an early age, something magical happens. Like a sponge, their brains absorb the sounds, intonations and structures specific to that language. According to a study by Patricia K. Kuhl and Sandra R. Waxman at the University of Washington, Seattle, in 2008, children have an innate ability to learn the sounds of a foreign language when exposed to it from an early age. This early exposure fosters their linguistic development and enables them to naturally absorb the phonetic features of the language.
Cultivating natural familiarity
By exposing them to a foreign language from an early age, we offer them a unique opportunity to develop an attentive ear and a natural familiarity with the language. They are able to perceive the nuances and subtleties of pronunciation, rhythms and specific intonations. This enables them to develop precise aural skills and reproduce these sounds with great accuracy. The earlier children are exposed to a foreign language, the more likely they are to develop this natural familiarity, giving them a valuable linguistic advantage.
Nurturing a passion for languages right from the start
Learning a foreign language at an early age also has the power to nurture a passion for languages. When children are exposed to a foreign language and see that they can understand** and express themselves in it, it creates a sense of confidence and motivation. They develop a natural curiosity for languages, which will accompany them throughout their learning journey. It’s a precious gift we can give our children, enabling them to thrive in a multilingual world and develop a lifelong passion for languages.
Conclusion
Natural absorption is one of the eight key benefits of learning a language by listening from an early age. By exposing children to a foreign language from an early age, we offer them the chance to develop a natural familiarity, cultivate a passion for languages and gain confidence in their abilities, to dare to speak, to dare to learn again. Let’s nurture their curiosity, awaken their musical ear and open the doors to a world of different languages and cultures.
- Sources :The Scientist in the Crib: Minds, Brains, and How Children Learn (Harper Collins) by Dr. Patricia K. Kuhl Waxman,
- S.R., Lidz, J., Braun, I. E., Lavin, T.(2009) Twenty-four-month-old infants’ interpretations of novel verbs and nouns in dynamic scenes. Cognitive Psychology. 59(1), 67-95.
- Unsworth, S. J., Levin, W., Bang, M., Washinawatok, K., Waxman, S. R., & Medin, D. L. (2012). Cultural differences in children’s ecological reasoning and psychological closeness to nature: Evidence from Menominee and European-American children. Journal of Cognition and Culture.
