Here at Lingoo, we believe you can learn a new language at any stage of life. But with scientists at Massachusetts Institute of Technology revealing that children aged up to 17 or 18 are best able to absorb the grammar of a new language, learning a second or third language as a teenager is particularly beneficial.
As parents we all want our children to have the best opportunities in life. Learning a language will enrich travel experiences, boost employability, and enhance cultural awareness. It may come as a surprise, but according to the British Council, teenagers in England are still less likely to learn new languages, with uptake at GCSE and A-level falling dramatically in recent years. Alex Rawlings, teacher and formerly the UK's most multilingual student, talks more about the lack of enthusiasm for language learning amongst this generation of teenagers:
‘I think we've failed young people who love languages. We haven't put the case to them that it doesn't matter what they want to do in life, and what their strengths and weaknesses are, and that learning a foreign language can only be a positive. There is nothing that demonstrates more self-discipline, determination, study skills and the ability to concentrate than learning a language.’
There are several ways you can encourage your teenager to enjoy language learning and benefit from bilingualism, now and in the future.
Boast about the benefits
Your teenager is be better equipped to learn a second language than they will be in later life. You can learn a new language faster and easier the younger you are. Make sure they know this and don’t be afraid to share details of the other benefits that being able to speak and communicate in another language, beside your native tongue, can unlock.
Learning a new language has been proven to boost problem solving skills and creativity. It can also help your teenager connect with and understand cultures other than their own. In the future, being able to speak a second language will look great on their CV too, enhancing future career opportunities no-end.
Go beyond the language
Languages are interesting to learn, but so are the cultures that they originate from. Building up a knowledge of the culture and country of the target language will help to spark an interest in learning. Teach your teenager more about the history and heritage of the country as well as its current culture.
Introducing them to its food, films, and music is another great way to encourage a teenager’s love for language learning.
Make it fun
By making language learning a fun activity, you can encourage children of all ages to learn the basics. For younger children, word games, jokes, riddles, and rhymes provide the interactive route to immersive, everyday language learning. The fun doesn’t have to stop just because your children are teenagers, however.
Use relevant activities that exploit their interests to help your teenager hit attainable milestones. Participating in such activities on a regular basis will give them the confidence boost they need to see that a language learning goal is easy to achieve. Your teenager doesn’t have to do it alone either. The wider family can get involved to make language learning a fun, shared passion.
Live it with a homestay
The best way to learn a new language? By booking a homestay of course! Homestay accommodation provides the perfect setting for informal learning and exciting cultural exploration. With a homestay, you give your teenager the opportunity to learn a new language and understand the country behind it.
Homestays aren’t just about learning. These trips offer memorable travel experiences that your teenager will look back on with fondness for years to come. Our family language immersion experiences mean your teenager doesn’t have to have all the fun, either.
Join up today and start searching for the perfect language immersion experience for your teenager today!
