Ten ways to improve your child’s English learning

Learning a second language is never easy, but it’s worth it. It can also be helpful for your child’s development in other areas, because learning a new language gives your child’s brain a highly active and intriguing place to explore. Learning a new language is one thing, and knowing how to speak it fluently is another. You can increase your child’s fluency by doing a few simple things at home. English is also becoming one of the most spoken languages in the world so some parents  may want their child to learn this language. 

But it can be difficult for those people who are not born into English. 

In this blog post, I will give you 10 tips that you can implement that will help improve your child’s English.

I have used some of the approach when my children were learning French and now I am using a few in my 11 years old learning Dutch.

Without further delay let’s get into it

Make a daily routine for your child. 

A daily routine is important for continuous progress. Like everything else in life the more we practise  the better it gets over time. Therefore, for your child to improve in English  there needs to be a system that will help to facilitate daily practice. This varies for everyone. A daily routine might be to learn new words and phrases that they may not have come across in their day-to-day life. This can help to expand the vocabulary of children, which is a crucial skill in learning English. Furthermore, children who have a daily routine are more likely to retain and remember the words and phrases that they learn, which can help them in their studies.

Another approach to daily routine is also to get your child to master the English vocabulary associated with their daily routine. What language is associated with getting ready for school or for tidying up the house? As these routines are carried out you can help her learn the language related to those tasks. This is also learning in context which I believe is far better than just memorising vocabulary.

Create a story that you and your child can read together. 

We are all creators. Our children are even more creative at it than we give them credit.

A fun way to improve your child’s English is to get her to use her English vocabulary to create stories.These can be silly stories. You can even make silly poems. Whether the story created is silly or sensible, it brings awareness of the usage of the vocabulary. Very often we find that a second language learner may be fluent in speaking their new language but they struggle with writing and reading. This method therefore is crucial to be included if you desire for her to be able to confidently write in  the language. Creating stories can also be used to track progress in writing as you can see how her writing evolves overtime.

Use a picture book to introduce your child to new words. 

Picture books are always fun. It is such an unutilised way of language learning.

This is a wonderful way to read a book that doesn’t require too much effort on your part. They are also a great way to improve the speaking skills of children that can’t yet read or write. Picture books are a wonderful way to learn a new language and teach a new skill.

They are a great way to learn words and also to understand what is happening on the page. The pictures that are used also help children to remember new words and grammar. Using picture books can be a great way to learn a language. However, it is important to keep in mind that not all picture books are created equal. Some picture books are better for learning vocabulary and others are better for learning grammar. It is important to find the right picture books for you and your child. There are many ways to find picture books for learning a language. You can often find picture books at your local library or at your local bookstore. You can also find picture books online. 

Make a vocabulary list

It can be hard to come up with a list of words to learn. Fortunately, with a little creativity you can find a way to learn a language and create your own vocabulary list. This list can exist in two forms ; words your child already knows and words she must learn and starts to use in her daily context. With some time and dedication, you could create your own list of words to learn and have a blast learning a new language.

There are many ways you can create a vocabulary list. One way is to create flashcards.  There are many flash cards sites online. To name a few we have brainscape- https://www.brainscape.com/ and proprofs flashcards- https://www.proprofsflashcards.com/ 

Another way is to create a vocabulary list in a notebook or create it on a spreadsheet, or a word document. However you create it, it must be easy to use. You should also make sure that the list created is one  that will help her learn the language.

What are these lists good for?

The list can be for practice,spelling practice, quiz and my favourite to share with others to join in your journey. 

Use a story to help your child improve their pronunciation

It is good to have a wide vocabulary but it can be to no avail if pronunciation is poor. This can make communication difficult. Whether your child is just learning how to speak or learning English, storytelling is the key to improving pronunciation. Stories can give a better understanding of how to pronounce words and phrases. Stories are a great way to help your child improve their pronunciation. They are a fun way to learn new words and phrases. The most important thing about stories is that they are just one word at a time. They allow children to focus on one word at a time and build up their vocabulary. This helps children to learn vocabulary in a fun and interactive way. Stories are also great for pronunciation practice because they use the target words in the story. They allow children to practice saying the words in a story, which helps them to improve their pronunciation.

There are many types of storybooks that can be used to help your child improve their pronunciation. Some books are made for children who are learning how to read. These books are usually easy to read and include rhyming words and simple sentences. Other books are made for children who are learning how to speak. These books are slightly more complex and may have more than one sentence per page. Children who are learning how to speak may have a hard time with some of the more advanced books. For these children, it is best to choose a simpler storybook with pictures.
It is important to make sure that you read the story out loud and slowly so that your child can follow along. It is also important to speak with a good tone so that your child can hear the correct pronunciation. It is also important to use a variety of voices so that your child can hear the correct pronunciation. It would also be helpful to have your child repeat the words after you.

Use a word game to help your child learn to read.

Word games are a fun and engaging way to help your child learn to read. Word games can improve your child’s reading skills by encouraging them to think more deeply about the words they are reading. Word games also build a foundation of skills that will help your child succeed in reading and writing in the future. Word games are also a great way to teach your child new words and how to spell them.
There are many word games available for children. Some of them are board games and others are online. If you are looking for an online word game, there are many to choose from. Some of the most popular online word games are Scrabble, Boggle, and Words With Friends. If you are thinking about purchasing a board game, then try to find one with a word bank. This will help your child learn to spell words as they play.

Use a song to help your child learn to read

Songs are great to improve your child’s English because they are a lot more fun and engaging than simply using words to teach your child. It can also be a bonding experience between you and your child. Songs are even an excellent way to help your child learn new words, their meanings, and practice pronunciations. There are a lot of benefits to using songs to teach your child English. There are many ways to use songs to help your child learn English. One way is to sing songs with your child. Another way is to use a song as a reward for doing something well. For example, if your child does well on a test, you could reward them with a song. Another way to use a song is to talk about the lyrics. If you have a song that is about something fun or exciting, you could talk about the lyrics and use them to teach your child about something else. If you are struggling to find a song that is in English, you can use a song in your language. For example, if you know a song in Spanish, you can use it to help your child learn English.

Watching television

TV has been an important part of our lives. While we have to be firm about how long our children watch television, we can’t deny it’s effect in learning English or any other languages.  I have taught many children who are not native speakers of English and when I asked how they learnt English they told me from watching Netflix and youtube videos.

 It is important to remember that TV is not only entertaining but also educational. TV can help your child learn English by watching shows with English subtitles. However, there are many other benefits of TV. TV can also teach your child about different cultures, help them learn to read, and teach them about various topics. In addition, TV can help your child develop social skills by encouraging them to interact with their peers. TV is also a great way to teach your child about the world.

Whilst I have stated some benefits to using TV as a way of improving your child’s English I am also aware of the draws and and I also understand why some parents may not embrace this method. For eg Tv is a passive form of entertainment and other methods might be more suitable for some children.

 Be patient and allow your child to learn at their own pace

I can remember wanting my son to learn French so badly that I was not always patient. I imposed on him the pace I think he should be at. That didn’t help. It led to him being unmotivated and tired on his journey. I found that creating the opportunity for language immersion was more helpful and natural than imposing on him. The journey to learning a new language is unique and this must be respected. 

You may find that your child is able to speak better than he reads or understands spoken English or vice versa ,but in their own time provided there is constant immersion they should make progress. 

Discuss language and culture with your child

Culture and language goes hand in hand.  A way to good communication is to first understand the culture of a language remembering that language is not just about speaking but it is a way of life. 

Every culture has its own language, and it is an important part of the unique identity of that culture. Language reflects aspects of a culture such as history, morals, and habits. This is why it is important for learners to learn the culture  of their target language.

For example the French speak fast and like to shorten their words.  Understanding such habits can help to understand the spoken language.  In English for example there are increasing more and more contractions used in spoken English so having an understanding of such habits can make learning the target language less frustrating.  This will help your child communicate with others, and understand how they share ideas and stories with each other.

Summary

For your child to learn a new language you have to be consistent and intentional in your support. There are many strategies to use but you will have to find what works for your child as each child’s journey is unique. Different strategies are useful at different stage of the journey but as you become intentional in your approach/support the ones which are useful for that stage will become apparent.

What strategies do you find useful?

I would be happy to hear from you regarding this.

Happy reading

Kerrian