Language acquisition is the process of children acquiring a language through a subconscious process during which they are unaware of grammatical rules. This happens especially when they acquire their first language. They repeat what is said to them and get a feel of what is correct and what is not. In order to acquire a language, they need a source of natural communication. Language learning, on the other hand, is the result of direct instruction in the rules of language. Language learning is not an age appropriate activity for very young children as learning presupposes that learners have a conscious knowledge of the new language and can talk about that knowledge.
At Language Lab Academy, our number one goal is language acquisition! Unlike many dual language programs, we teach 95% in the target language. Because our classes and curriculum are geared towards “output”, verbal communication, our students are able to retain the target language much faster and are able to converse sooner.
Children may go through a silent period when acquiring a second language, which happens as they focus on listening to and comprehending the new language. This can last anywhere from a few weeks to a year, depending on the age of the child. But there is no reason to be alarmed as they usually sort themselves out.
It is true that kids might be confused a little bit at the beginning, when there are two different labels for things, or they need to use different languages to talk to different people. It can be normal for children learning more than one language to experience what’s known as “interference” — when the grammar and structure of one language influences the grammar of the other language they are learning, which leads to grammatical errors. This is not a language disorder, but a normal part of learning two languages.
The best way for a child to learn a new language is for him/her to hear people speaking it fluently. Our immersive language programs gives students hundreds of hours of effectively communicating with our language specialists in the target language. The longer they are exposed to authentic conversations, they’ll begin to pick up the sounds and the natural accent.
Every child is different. Depending on the amount of time a child is exposed to the target language, will affect his/her level of acquisition. The more time a child spends in the target language, the more likely their will become fluent.
Our curriculum includes S.T.E.M (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) as well as reading and cultural arts!
At Language Lab Academy, our preschool program offers your child the opportunity to learn up to two languages simultaneously! As your child reaches different levels of proficiency, they will be able to acquire additional languages through our program as well.
Research shows that learning a second language boosts problem-solving, critical-thinking, and listening skills, in addition to improving memory, concentration, and the ability to multitask.
Parents and students are given weekly take-home activities and assignments to help practice and reinforce language learning. Each student will have the opportunity to practice key words and phrases at home and in other settings.
Three and 4-year-olds are not only increasing their vocabularies, they’re starting to recognize the speech patterns they’ve been hearing since birth. The earlier you introduce a second language, the easier it will be for your child to pick up its unique sounds.
Studies show the more languages a child knows, makes it easier to acquire additional languages.