Baby Berlitz: Little Masters of Foreign Languages

Bilingual children really seem to be en vogue these days. Parents begin teaching their children foreign languages, such as Spanish, German, French, Mandarin Chinese, etc. from the earliest ages. Some parents even begin teaching foreign languages in tandem with English. In a couple years, we can all expect that the playgrounds will be filled with masses of pint-size linguists, and a game of tag will sound like a United Nations conference.

Many people swear by the benefits of providing children with a multilingual education. There are some obvious benefits, but this curriculum could have some risks.

The main risk of teaching a child multiple languages is that English training could be neglected. (By the way, if you’re reading this, it’s assumed that you want your child to speak fluent English.) It is wonderful for a child to speak multiple languages but only if that child is given the chance to master English. A solid understanding of English communication is vital to a child entering an English-speaking kindergarten. If a child lacks English skills, the child will needlessly struggle with every subject.