It is true that if you encourage your child to learn a new language, then it can open doors to many great opportunities for them.
Learning a new language helps them connect with the people of other countries, understand their cultures and build useful skills for the future.
There is no doubt that French is a very popular language among all the foreign languages people usually prefer to learn.
That is because it is spoken in so many different parts of the world and has a very rich culture behind it.
Most of the time, people learn a new language to move to another country. It can be related to work, studies or starting a business abroad.
When parents introduce their kids to the French language at a young age, it becomes easier for them to become proficient in it while growing up.
This is because the young children can easily understand and pick up the new words as well as accents. This becomes easy for them because their brains are still developing and are more flexible compared to the adults.
That means they can start using the language in a very natural way once they become proficient in it, just like they use their mother tongue.
This thing boosts their confidence and helps them become more comfortable with the French language as they grow older.
In this blog, we will discuss why learning French is beneficial for your kids and how it supports the development of their brain and future opportunities.
More about the French Language
French originated in France and it is now spoken in more than 29 countries worldwide. On average, it is spoken by more than 300 million people around the globe.
The popularity of the French language continues to grow because of education, business and tourism connections.
It is the official and even semi-official language in the countries of:
- Europe
- Africa
- North America
- Parts of Asia
It is also one of the official languages of:
- The United Nations
- The European Union
- UNESCO
- The International Olympic Committee
It shares many similarities with the English language in terms of the vocabulary and sentence structure.
This thing makes it easier for the students to learn it effectively without being overwhelmed.
Why Learning French Early Is a Good Idea
We should keep one thing in mind that kids are capable of understanding and learning new things extremely fast.
The reason for this thing is that their brains are still developing and are more flexible.
If parents support their children to learn French, the kids will gain the confidence they need to help them hold conversations in French.
Moreover, if they start learning it early, it will remove the pressure from their minds that many adults feel while learning a foreign language.
This thing makes them more comfortable and helps them remember the words and expressions for a long time.
Cognitive Benefits of Learning French in Childhood
The children can use their brains and strengthen their memory, concentration and problem-solving abilities when they switch between the two languages.
Here, we have discussed the main cognitive benefits that your child can get while learning French.
- The children who learn languages like French early in childhood tend to remember information faster and retain it for longer.
- When your children switch between English and French, it trains their brains to pay more attention and ignore the distractions around them.
- It provides your children with more ways to express their ideas and solve problems when they think of something in two languages.
- When they learn the different words and understand how they sound, it sharpens their hearing and comprehension while learning a new language.
Educational and Academic Advantages
The parents should also encourage their kids to learn French, as it can help them in their academics.
That is because many international schools and universities value those students more who know at least one foreign language.
Also, knowing French shows them that a student has extra skills and can handle the global opportunities after growing up.
The students who start learning French early can appear for the international French exams as well like DELF or DALF. These exams prove their proficiency in the French language. They also help them attract better opportunities related to their field.
They are also useful for the students who want to opt for higher education or professional courses in the French-speaking countries.
It also encourages curiosity in you about other countries and their cultures which is an important part of learning.
Moreover, many French-speaking countries offer scholarships to the international students who know French to help them study there.
Thus, learning French early makes it easier for the children to study abroad in French-speaking countries.
Future Career Opportunities
One of the strongest reasons why parents should encourage their kids to learn French is the wide range of career options. The people who can speak more than one language are always in high demand globally. The French language is also used in many fields such as:
- International business
- Diplomacy
- Fashion
- Tourism
- Hospitality
- Aviation
- Technology
Nowadays, many international companies prefer hiring candidates who can communicate in both English and French (or any other foreign language). This is because they often work with the global clients.
How Parents Can Support Their Kids in Learning French
The parents play a very important role in helping their children learn the French language.
It is understandable that they might not have the enough knowledge of the French language. However, they can still guide their kids to learn French in simple and practical ways like:
- The parents can encourage their kids to practice repeating the new French words they have learnt which also helps to enhance their pronunciation.
- They can praise their kids for achieving small goals like when they learn to count or greet others in French, as this helps to keep them motivated.
- If the parents observe that their kids need more guidance, they can also enrol them in nearby French classes that can help them learn it more efficiently.
The parents should remember that the children learn things best when they enjoy the process. So, they should focus on helping their kids build an interest in the French language.
The Role of Schools and Language Programs
These days, the majority of schools have started to appreciate the value of foreign languages. Many of them have made French a part of their curriculum.
That means now the parents have the option to select schools that teach French starting from the primary level.
The schools can make learning French more interesting for the students by using some interactive teaching methods in the classes.
The teachers can teach French grammar to them in a fun way with the help of poems, short stories and role plays.
These classes often use colourful visuals and simple exercises that make learning French easier for the kids.
To help the children understand more about the language, some schools have also started celebrating “French Day”.
It is a yearly celebration where the kids get to taste the French food, experience their music and get to know more about the culture of the French people.
Also, learning French through the structured courses or programs helps the students improve their vocabulary along with listening and speaking skills.
French as a Gateway to Other Languages
The parents should encourage their children to learn French because learning it also helps their kids to learn other languages later.
The French language belongs to the family of Romance languages which includes:
- Spanish
- Italian
- Portuguese
If your kid learns the French language successfully, then they may also learn the above-mentioned languages.
That simply means that once your children understand the French grammar and pronunciation, it becomes easier for them to learn the above-mentioned languages.
There is one interesting fact that many English words have come from the French language, such as:
- Restaurant
- Ballet
- Garage
- Menu
So, learning French can also help your kids to improve their English vocabulary. This connection between the languages builds a strong foundation for the future learners.
Why French Is a Global Language of the Future
The number of people speaking French and learning it is rising daily, mainly in countries in Africa and Asia.
This thing makes learning French a wise decision for today’s children living in the global world.
We all know that the language is the one and only way that helps the people connect to one another from different parts of the world.
The French language is spoken across several countries and connects people from many different backgrounds. It is one of the main languages used in international organisations, trade and tourism.
Furthermore, learning French can help your children prepare them to study, work and travel in different countries. They will also find it easier to work with people from other countries after successfully learning French.
Moreover, the demand for French-speaking professionals is rapidly increasing in India these days.
Thus, the parents who encourage their children in learning French are preparing them for a more connected and successful future.
Final Thoughts
We have discussed that learning French early helps your children in many ways.
It improves their studies, builds confidence and teaches them about the different cultures. It also creates better opportunities for their education and future careers.
The parents should note one thing that the children learn things faster when they truly enjoy it and start early.
That is because their minds are still developing, so they can easily pick up new words and sounds.
On top of that, the parents can make this process enjoyable by using poems, games, stories and short videos to help them learn naturally.
Thus, the parents should encourage their kids to learning French early and it is not only about a new language.
It is about preparing your kids for a better future, helping them grow smarter and making them feel confident enough to connect with the world around them.
