Learning a new language is hard, and you may think it would be harder for a child, especially as they are still perfecting their first language. However, children are sponges and learn through play, so there are many ways to encourage your child to learn a new language without it needing to be stressful.
DinoLingo Language App
DinoLingo is the largest online language learning program for children, with 50 languages with 25,000 learning activities. It is a self-learning program where children learn languages by watching videos and playing games independently at home. It is recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 12. The app is available on both Android and iOS.
Having moved to France, I chose the French lessons to help Lucas outside of school and not feel the pressure to learn as he may do in an educational setting. The French lessons are filled with animated cartoons, surprises and repetitions.
The French games for children include various games such as memory matching, click and tell, word wheel games and quizzes. The games are strategically placed after each French lesson to measure the child’s French learning progress.
The app has hundreds of French books for children, such as world classics, short stories, fairy tales and basic picture books for beginner and advanced French learners. Additionally, their French book library has over 100 French audiobooks for children with both “read along” and “translate to English” features so that children can listen to those books audio in French and English.
Lucas really enjoys playing on this and showing me his progress in the quizzes. As he goes through the lessons, they start off as a dinosaur egg, but once he has done a lesson, it hatches into a dinosaur which, in Lucas’ own words, ‘is so adorable’.
Learn with your child
You could also learn a new language with your child; setting time aside each day to use the laptop together to concentrate on a new language can be fun and a great bonding exercise. Learn Languages 24 provides lifetime access to online courses in 79 languages. They offer a standard 31-day full-money-back guarantee. This gives you plenty of time to thoroughly check out the language courses.
Snap in French
Every child loves playing traditional card games, Snap in French will enrapture young children and make a superb gift. Lucas got these from his Auntie last Christmas; we love playing together. As well as playing snap, they are great to use as flashcards. We say what the words are,[ and as they have the picture on them, they are easy to learn, such as Papillon on the card with a picture of a butterfly. They are beautifully illustrated with Jo Litchfield’s hand-made model characters; the cards feature everyday objects such as apples and balloons.
Listen and Learn First French Words
The listen and learn first french words looks like a book, but it’s actually a clever sound panel that allows children to hear 128 everyday French words spoken by a native speaker. Lucas loves selecting a card with illustrations of a topic, such as clothes, food, or animals, slotting it into the special frame and pressing the pictures to hear the words read aloud. Each of the four double-sided topic cards shows sixteen words with corresponding pictures for children to press. It’s a fun and engaging way for children to learn French as a first or second language.
First Thousand Words in French Sticker Book
A sticker book version of the classic First Thousand Words in French, featuring the much-loved illustrations of Stephen Cartwright. A valuable reading and spelling guide and a highly effective vocabulary builder, with over 500 stickers to encourage active learning and build word associations in a memorable way. Children can listen to the words in the book pronounced by a native speaker via the Usborne Quicklinks website.
The Fabulous Lost and Found
The Fabulous Lost and Found and the little French mouse. A little mouse walks into the Lost & Found, but can only speak French. How will Mr and Mrs Frog figure out what the mouse is missing…? Aimed at children aged 2-7, the unique ‘Story-powered language learning method’ combines humour, story and emotion to gently introduce children to more than forty simple and fun French words and phrases.
Giveaway
For you chance to win a one-year subscription of DinoLingo to help your child learn a new language in the language of your choice, enter below. Good luck!
Win a one year subscription to DinoLingo
