Learning foreign languages ​​in children under 6 years

The teacher, during all school hours, only communicates in English and addition to this, the classroom is fully decorated with materials entitled in that language. However, even children do not talk about a hundred percent in that language, although it shows that all instructions and activities are well understood.

This is an observation that coincides with the Hurlock position where it indicates that in repeated studies it has been shown that at all ages the passive or "comprehension vocabulary" is greater than the asset or "spoken". For example, babies can understand the general meaning of what they are told, long before they are able to speak.

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1. About language and speech
2. Theoretical framework
3. Neurological Speech Bases
4. On bilingualism
5. Notes on learning a new language

About language and speech

It is essential to highlight a substantial difference between language and speech. For Hurlock the language "covers all the media in which thoughts and feelings are symbolized so that they make sense to others. Includes as different forms such as writing, speech, language language, facial expressions, gestures, pantomime and art ". For the same author, speech "is a form of language in which articulated words or sounds are used to communicate meaning".

Many experts emphasize that a child's brain is very plastic. In this regard, Mr. Aaron Ocampo, professor of the Psychophysiology course at the Latin University of Costa Rica, indicates that in the child the connections of the neurons are being formed and that the stimulation that occurs at this time will contribute to the training or not these connections.

Theoretical framework

Regarding this topic, the educational psychologist Dr. Roberto Rodríguez believes that from birth and up to 12 years the neurological maturation of learning develops and is where languages ​​can be learned more easily than in later years, because The understanding is moldable and there are no social pressures such as the fear of criticism for mistakes in pronunciation or writing.

For Carlson, brain development begins in The first days of embryo development. Once neurons reach their destinations, they begin to form connections with other cells. They develop dendrites, which receive the terminal buttons of the axons of other neurons, while generating their own axons; All this influenced by chemical and physical factors. The neurons that receive these buttons and axons must also be effort so that the connection is given.

Carlson also mentions that nature is very wise, because the brain initially produces 50% more cells to form synaptic connections, but if they fail to establish those connections, they die. This confirms the fact that if in a person in their first years of life it is not stimulated, the areas without motivation will not be able to perform a synapse, and since these neurons are going to die. This is a very appropriate evolutionary process, where neurons will compete to make these connections.

Neurological Speech Bases

The speech in the human being is very complex, because it involves various areas: Occipital, temporal and parietal lobes. It is important that the person has to talk about, and this will be the product of memories, imaginations or perceptions, but there must always be a background.

It should be noted that two key skills are involved in speech, the first is a Motor capacity, Well, there are a lot of muscles involved in this process. The second is the mental ability, also vital, because it is necessary. To these skills are added the need for maturity of the child's body, because for more than him or his parents wish he will not speak until his body is mature to achieve it.

Two vital regions stand out in particular for speech to be: The Broca area and Wernicke's area.

The first It is located in the left frontal lobe region, contains memories of the sequences of muscle movements required to articulate words . A person with an injury in this area is characterized by a slow, difficult and non -fluid speech. Wernicke's second area It is located in the middle and posterior parts of the upper temporal turn of the left hemisphere and Its function is to recognize spoken words, It is a complex perceptual task that is based on sound sequence. A person with damage in this area is characterized by a deficit in speech compression .

On bilingualism

As far as language learning is concerned, the DR. Rodríguez recommends that The child first learns the language to speak where he lives, that is, from the scope where it develops. The above because this influences the social development of this person, which will allow him to feel better adapted and be able to relate to people around him, such as his teachers and classmates, etc. After this domain, you can start teaching another or other languages. Otherwise, self -esteem would be at stake, because if you can't communicate well you will feel displaced, or you will be isolated.

In fact, in the long term, the knowledge of foreign languages ​​provides the individual rewarding advantages not only personal, but professional and academic. According to Mr. Mario Maroto Lizano, general manager of Lafise Bank, Learning from another language provides culture, which allows the human being to have a more open and adaptable way of thinking. He also recognized that in certain professions the knowledge of a foreign language is vital. For example, a doctor who does not dominate English is exposed to suffering a backwardness in his technical and scientific knowledge, because advances in the field of medicine are published in English and long later in other languages. Thus, this issue of foreign languages ​​also contributes to professional competitiveness.

In the same way, some complications, says the educational psychologist and Renzo Titone, can be derived from a Premature home of foreign language teaching, Well, until approximately 3 years of age, the boy or girl gets that his native language is well developed and is from this moment that he recommends the introduction of learning from another language, since before the boy confuses learning and does not defines by a single language and can show arrears in your communication process, and even the need to resort to language therapy may occur due to problems of structuring prayer, pronunciation, etc. Also, many times, these cases are poorly diagnosed as "language problems" being so only a weakness in pronunciation.

On the other hand, points the DR. Rodríguez not all Children have the same ease of learning another idiomA, not only because of intellectual capacity but especially for learning skills as problems of auditory or visual discrimination, increasing them complexity in learning the new language or language.
Here it is important to establish the difference between "learn an additional language" versus "learn with an additional language" the latter means that formal education (mathematics, science, history, etc.) are taught in the foreign language; The first point refers to these courses being taken in the native language and on the separate.

Rodriguez's position is backed by Hurlock which states that there are conditions associated with bilingualism that can be dangerous for good adaptation and that can cause negative effects in:

• Social adaptations
• School works
• Speech development
• Thought
• Social discrimination
• The fact of being different

Notes on learning a new language

There are remedial programs that help support the child in the weakness of the second language, if there were; If this does not work, the appropriate thing is to change it from the educational institution before exposing it to academic failures and a deterioration of its self -esteem.

Together, there are a number of qualities that children have since the age of 3, which without a doubt must be used: a child of 3 to 6 years will have lower learning difficulties of a second language compared to another child of primary or secondary school, Since the perception of rejection is more sanctioned and produces more social shame at the beginning of intermediate childhood, not being so during early childhood, explains the DR. Rodríguez.

For Hurlock there are some elements that promote learning a language:

• The satisfaction of expressing others verbally the needs and desires.
• Achieve the attention of others through speech.
• The ability to express themselves with others in a comprehensive way, thus increasing social relations.
• Acceptance by the social group.
• If there is an acceptance of the social group its self -assessment is high, but the opposite case is presented.
• An adequate expression capacity influences a positive academic realization.

In addition, The influence of the media Like music, internet, television, they are a very valuable contribution as a learning facilitator, Mr. Maroto and Rodríguez point out.

Finally, the DR. Rodríguez states that the child learns a language because he will work and allows him to be understood through his ability to communicate, therefore the first form of communication oral foreign languages ​​must focus on oral domain, in the first instance and then the writing.

In addition, the oral is audible and can be lent so that the child feels criticized, rejected by some mistake in his pronunciation (especially at major ages), therefore, the teaching methodology is influential; If games, songs, drawings, etc. will lead to a stimulating and pleasant atmosphere for the apprentice. Continuity and time invested is important, according to DR. Rodríguez would be ideal for the child to be exposed at least 3 hours to foreign language learning.

Finally, Hurlock recommends the presence of several fundamental aspects for good learning of a language:

• A good model to imitate: children must be pronounced correctly.
• PRACTICE OPPORTUNITIES: This encourages them the motivation to learn to speak another language.
• Motivation: Recognize effort on learning with acknowledgments or awards.
• Orientation: Correct the mistakes made in pronunciation or writing.

Andrey will be a child who will join more easily in this globalized world, where to master two or more languages ​​will generate important competitive advantages.

This article is merely informative, in psychology-online we have no power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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