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Writer's pictureChloe Lister

Benefits from learning another language

As an adult, anyone who has tried to learn a new language knows how challenging it can be. Research has shown that childhood is the best time to learn a new language.


At Astor International school we offer various language programs as an extra curriculum activity (ECA), such as Mandarin, French and Russian. Young children’s brains are like sponges, they will soak up all the grammar rules and vocabulary that they are exposed to very easily, as they are constantly learning new things. For an adult, this would entail a lot of hard work, but children do not think about languages in the same way.


Learning languages can be fun for children in various ways such as singing songs, playing games and reading books. Children are also free of all the embarrassment that adults feel when they are speaking foreign languages, as they are eager to try out what they have learned.


Learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical thinking and listening skills. In addition, it improves memory, concentration and the ability to multitask.


Chinese

Given China’s vast population, growing economy and living in Singapore, experts recommend learning Mandarin. The language’s different tones make it sound more like a song, which is a great tool when teaching children. In addition, the Chinese characters look like pictures, which can be appealing to young visual learners.


French

More than 270 million people speak French on five continents. French is one of the big romance languages. French and English share many words in their respective vocabularies, making learning French easier for English-speaking students. Since children can learn French quickly and easily, it’s a great way to boost their confidence.


Russian

Russia has an incredible history, rich in culture and traditions, so it is a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about a new country through their language. The Russian alphabet is known as the Cyrillic script. It is easier to learn than the English alphabet because the letters only have one letter to a sound, while the English alphabet can have more than one sound.


Furthermore, languages help children to understand better other cultures, expressions and different types of communication. This can encourage children to appreciate how big the world is and open their minds significantly - which is what we strive towards at Astor International School.










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