Comments on: When not to start to teach Children languages

By: Mark Biernat

Mark Biernat — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:09:02 +0000

It is a problem only if you perceive it as an issue. Do not worry about it, just make it fun and cool for them to use Persian. If it is a game to use Persian than kids will learn it.

By: Mark Biernat

Mark Biernat — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 18:07:19 +0000

If you are starting them at 3 years old. My daughter is taking Chinese at 1 1/2. This is when the brain is formed not at age 15 during high school language classes. At a young age you should just play and speak with them. They will be native speakers. Your main focus is to talk and entertain them so they really enjoy it. Then for homework give them things to listen to or YouTube to watch something to keep them interested. But they do not need homework of course, but I watch Chinese cartoons with my daughter. They just need exposure to the language not grammar. Grammar is abstract and they will not even understand the idea until at least the age of seven or eight. Their brains will not even be able to grasp it.
So yes flashcards, read stories and play with them. The teach them basic nouns after they are use to use and then add adjetives and verbs like ‘yellow ball’ Give it to me etc. They are native speakers and you can not teach native speakers to speak with grammar, only by over exposure to the language. Persian is certainly and interesting language to learn.

By: farnaz

farnaz — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:21:21 +0000

Something else,I life in Iran and all people around my students speak Farsi. I think it’s one of the important problem. am I right?

By: farnaz

farnaz — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 06:17:55 +0000

I started teaching english to 10-12 year old children about 1 year, but I want to start teaching 2 kids who are 3 years old. And I think it’s too hard. I don’t have any books for them and I want to teach them in a private class. I have some cds,flash cards, posters.my mother tongue is Persian.
Is it good for them to hold a class in their house?
What is the first step to teach them?
Do I need any books? What kind?
You know I just need to know how I can start. Then I can get along with this situation. I think I’m talented in this job.
thank you.

By: markbiernat

markbiernat — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 11:46:33 +0000

@A Your right about the teacher, for children if you have a nice teacher you will learn if you have a mean teacher you will not learn.

By: A

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:35:34 +0000

Polish- I’ve no time :
Przez rozmowę rozumiem pełną wymiane informacji i naturalny tok wypowiedzi. W przypadku dzieci dwujęzycznych z doświadczenia wiem,że problem praktycznie nie istnieje lecz gdy chodzi o naukę języka zupełnie obcego dziecku pojawia sie wiele trudności : można uczyć ale efekt stale wydaje się niezadowalający. Natomiast zgadzam się z wcześniej wyrażana opinią,że nauka języka (rzetelna nauka) jest bardzo rozwijająca – dla dzieci szczególnie. Odnośnie kolejnego wpisu na blogu o nauczycielach języka – sądzę, że są nauczyciele lepsi i gorsi właśnie dla dzieci bo dorosli radzą (o ile chcą) sobie z językiem sami bardzo dobrze.

By: markbiernat

markbiernat — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:15:58 +0000

It depends how you define conversation. I remember understanding most conversations at 2, however, I could not express myself. The reason I know I was two year old and understanding what adults were saying around was we moved a lot when I was young and I can associate conversations and events with the particular house we lived in when I was young. At 2 I lived in Newtown square, PA for example and I recall my older brother’s friend ‘Skippy’ trying to scare me and explaining that every child after the first one in a family, the government will take away because of over population. I was child number four out of five, so I was scare and I understood everything he told me which in turn I told my older brother about it. So I could understand and communicate at about 2 or 2 and a half I think pretty well. But 8 I was talking about history and politics and science, so I think conversation develops on a continuum from age 2 to 8, and after 8 you are really just maturing.

By: A

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 11:45:41 +0000

When can start conversation ? Children don’t know a lot of words – it’s difficult.