Posted on January 27, 2023 by Rosario Arán
The benefits of teaching kids a second language from an early age are well-known, and there is almost no room for discussion. All experts agree that it is easier to become bilingual and helps them feed their brains by challenging their concentration, memory and even problem-solving. Plus, mastering two languages requires a lot of multitasking as the brain continuously is actively translating and switching from one language to another.
Once the language seed is planted, the love for the language and the cultures that speak it become part of their lives. For example, I’ve learned French, and it grew on me so much that I enjoy French cinema and sometimes watch cartoons in French. Learning a new language comes with a new world of curiosity for cultures and embracing our differences.
In this article, we will explore 5 easy French words you can start teaching your kids today!
Thank you: Merci
(pronounced mair-see)
Easy-peasy, right? We all have heard it, and thank you is a word we say a lot, so why not try to be grateful in French?
You’re welcome: De rein
(pronounced du-rhee-en)
Just as ‘thank you’, replace You’re welcome for the French response.
Yes/no: Oui/no
(pronounced whee)/(pronounced non)
Short words that are easy to remember and pronounce.
Please: S’il vous plait
(pronounced see voo play)
This is trickier, but saying please is also part of polite speech.
Do you speak English?: Parlez-vous Anglais?
(pronounced parlay vooz ong-glay?)
You can increase the difficulty and aim for a longer sentence that is not too complicated.
Why should I teach my kids a second language? Why French?
Our article Why It’s Important to Raise My Kids Multilingual mentions excellent reasons to do so. In addition, we have given you some strategies to do it through the Dos and don’ts of Teaching French to Kids.
French is everywhere:
French is the world’s sixth most spoken language and weights centuries of cultural impact. Plus, Paris is the most visited city in the world, so why not try to learn the language they speak?
French is not so difficult to learn for English speakers
Although pronunciation can mislead you, French is not so difficult. Plus, once you learn the grammatical rules, it will be much easier to understand Roman languages such as Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese.
Start them Young! Stay Long!
There is no opposition towards the fact that learning a language in early childhood is beneficial for children. Their brain will pick up this new exercise and take advantage of the training to nurture other skills like cognitive thinking.
The good news is that you can start simply by teaching a few words like ‘merci’, a term they use in their daily lives, and that will make them feel as if they have accomplished a new lesson. If you want to step up the game, then you can follow by teaching the ABCs with the show ABC with Kenny G.
Join Oznoz today, and access cartoon shows in French.