learn language before visiting

If it's any help Jelly, i'm not english i'm Ukrainian. I always spoke to my son (now 13) in english first, as in all fairness England was where he was born, then repeated it in Ukranian. Word association sunk in and now he speaks English, Ukrainian, Russian, and Belarusian, and it's fluent too. He uses it quite wrongly at times (like when he doesn't want his friends to know what he's talking about) but i for one am glad i taught him at an early age. I found that by teaching him one language it spurred him on to learn others...in his words "just to see if i can" It doesn't do them any harm

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Originally Posted by jelly belly

Slightly related... For all the parents on here :)

My niece is three next month and I'm wondering if she is old enough to start learning a new language (German). Just the basics mind, numbers, colours, days of the week etc. She's been able to count to 20 since her second birthday and she knows the days of the week too.

She lived in Germany until she was one and I'm sure she can speak some German, just single words like Guten Tag/Hallo (hello), Bitte (please) and Schnell (quick). She used to say an awful lot more (more than in English), none of which we could understand, when she first came back to England but most of it has gone now.

Do you think this is a good idea? Is she old enough? Your thoughts please :D

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JB.. my son is 2, half german and his dad only talks to him in German, me in English.. he is speaking both languages well and understands both too. As a result of speaking German in the house, my 5 year old Daughter is picking it up too.. she knows colours/numbers etc. I have started german (from this free site and the BBC site) so I can understand them both cause I know they will start speaking German to each other.

I would highly recommend anyone teach their kids a second language and this package is brilliant cause it give pictures and the words so your kids can associated them. It is repeative and sticks in your head. All my boyfriend relatives commented on my improvement in German and that is down to BYKI free download...

Just wanted to remind everyone of this thread and to see how everyone is getting on with a new language.. Also for those learning German.. DS is bring out "Mind your language" course in March... "my spanish/french coach" is currently available

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Originally Posted by Abigail

Slightly related... For all the parents on here :)

My niece is three next month and I'm wondering if she is old enough to start learning a new language (German). Just the basics mind, numbers, colours, days of the week etc. She's been able to count to 20 since her second birthday and she knows the days of the week too.

She lived in Germany until she was one and I'm sure she can speak some German, just single words like Guten Tag/Hallo (hello), Bitte (please) and Schnell (quick). She used to say an awful lot more (more than in English), none of which we could understand, when she first came back to England but most of it has gone now.

Do you think this is a good idea? Is she old enough? Your thoughts please :D

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Here in Gibraltar all kids learn both English and Spanish from birth. As far as I am aware it does not slow them down in starting to talk, all mine started to talk very young (and have not shut up since!!) It is very common to hear someone here speaking a sentence in both English and Spanish.