THE TOP TEN MYTHS ABOUT SECOND LANGUAGE LEARNING

1. Only bilingual parents can raise bilingual children, and bilingual parents always raise bilingual children.
Reality: Bilingualism is achievable for children even if parents aren’t fluent in another language. A variety of resources, like apps, games, and books, can help expose children to a second language. Similarly, bilingual parents may not always prioritize teaching both languages, depending on their environment or personal choices.

2. I’m too late! You have to start very early for second language learning or you’ll miss the boat.
Reality: While starting young is advantageous, it’s never too late to begin learning a second language. Even older children and adults can achieve fluency with consistent practice. Starting early helps maximize the natural ability to pick up languages, but progress is possible at any age.

3. Only native speakers and teachers can teach children a second language.
Reality: While native speakers are a great resource, they’re not essential for language learning. Interactive tools like apps, storybooks, and online videos can provide children with the exposure and practice they need. Regular use of these resources builds vocabulary and comprehension effectively.

4. Children raised in the same family will have the same language skills as one another.
Reality: Siblings often have varying levels of proficiency in a second language due to differences in age, personality, and exposure. It’s important to tailor language experiences to each child’s needs and interests to ensure balanced progress.

5. It’s important to correct errors in grammar and vocabulary immediately to prevent bad habits.
Reality: Over-correcting can discourage children and reduce their confidence. Instead, gentle reinforcement and consistent exposure to the correct language use—such as listening to songs and stories—is a more effective way to help children naturally acquire the correct patterns.

6. Exposing my child to two languages will make them a late talker.
Reality: Research shows that bilingual children develop language skills at a similar pace to monolingual children. While they may mix words from both languages initially, this is a normal part of language development and doesn’t delay overall progress.

7. Mixing languages is a sign of confusion, and languages must stay separate.
Reality: Mixing languages (code-switching) is a natural part of bilingualism and a sign of linguistic flexibility, not confusion. Some parents prefer the one-parent-one-language method, but other approaches are equally effective.

8. Television, DVDs, and edutainment toys are great ways to pick up a language.
Reality: Passive exposure, like watching TV, is far less effective than active learning methods. Interactive platforms like Dinolingo, which engage children with games, songs, and activities, are much better at helping kids build meaningful language skills.

9. Bilingual education programs are for non-English speakers.
Reality: Bilingual education benefits all children by improving cognitive flexibility, cultural awareness, and academic performance. These programs can enrich a child’s overall learning experience, regardless of their first language.

10. Very young children should only learn two languages at most.
Reality: Newborns can differentiate the sounds of all the world’s languages, a skill that begins to diminish around ten months of age. With consistent exposure, children can successfully learn more than two languages. Programs like Dinolingo are designed to make this process engaging and accessible, especially during these formative years.

Online lessons for kids: dinolingo.com