- I've been an English-as-a-second-language teacher in Peru for over a decade.
- Teaching kids the basics of their native language will help them learn other languages later.
I've been teaching English in Peru for over a decade, and thousands of students, ages 14 to 86, have come through my doors. Most of my students are 16 to 25. My classes tend to have around 30 students, and I teach five or six lessons every day.
These students are usually in university, and one of the requirements for graduation is learning a second language. These college-aged students are showing some concerning tendencies that could be avoided if parents talked to their children at home.
Teach children the ins and outs of their native language
Learning a second language can be tough. It's made much more difficult, however, if the student doesn't have a foundation to work with. Since children learn their native language at home, it's important for parents to teach their children about their mother tongue.
One of the best ways for people to learn more about their mother tongue is by reading. Instilling reading as a lifelong habit will set your children up for success later on, especially if they're going to learn additional languages.
Promote tolerance and acceptance of others
In a language class, you're bound to find people from different backgrounds: people from different countries, with different skin colors, native languages, and learning styles. Teaching your child to accept these differences will not only make the classes smoother but give students more of an opportunity to learn from each other.
If your child is learning a second language, there's a chance they'll eventually be communicating with native speakers of that language — for instance, a student learning Spanish might travel to Mexico for a cultural-exchange program. Tolerance, acceptance, and general open-mindedness are extremely important while traveling and experiencing a culture different from your own. Teaching children about this while they're young will make life much easier later on.
Introduce them to everyday tasks
While it's not quite necessary for them to understand every tax exemption available or how to remove any stain from any type of material, college-aged students should have a decent grasp of everyday tasks.
Language classes shouldn't be 90-minute lessons on how to conjugate specific verbs. (If your high-school Spanish class was like this, I'm terribly sorry.) An effective language class incorporates other topics. It's not uncommon to have an entire class on how to use credit cards at a grocery store and roleplay a situation with students in a store — one as the cashier, the other as a patron. If they don't understand how to use a credit card, the lesson falls flat.
Other common tasks include driving and understanding universal road signs, ordering food in a restaurant, cleaning their house, and going to a doctor's appointment. Don't be afraid to let your child talk to their doctor directly, ask questions, and learn how to explain their symptoms clearly.
Learning another language is an experience that teaches not only the language but culture and how to handle yourself abroad. Students who are prepared for living in another country and handling its challenges will have a better grasp of the language they're learning and will be much more ready to use it when they need it, regardless of the situation they find themselves in.