Created: Wednesday, 27 February 2013 12:56

Using regular and repetitive methods to expose children to a language is a great way to teach them the language and music is a great way to do that!  Our LCF songs each tell a story – perfect for young ears to learn and get used to the story which in turn helps them remember the language.  And … you can now access some of our funky animated songs in French and Spanish online for FREE!

“The neurological links between language and music are vast but the basic thing to remember is that music activates more parts of the brain than language does, on both the right and left sides of the brain. So if you remember something to a tune, you are more likely to recall the information than if you just read it or heard it spoken.  Have you ever heard a song on the radio that you haven’t heard in a decade and you surprise yourself by singing all the lyrics?  Music and catchy jingles can stick in our minds for years while names of people, places,  verb conjugation charts and memorized data disappear.” (source /www.everydaylanguagelearner.com)

Kids love hearing a favourite song and will listen to it again and again, and each time they do, they learn a little more of the target language.  The LCF Fun Languages CDs for our French, Spanish and Mandarin for Kids club members are another way for your child to keep learning.  

• We’re always in the car – you don’t need to schedule ‘practice’ time all the time – just turn on the CD when you’re in the car (or in the background at home) and let the fun vocab rock out!
• Listening to lyrical music in different languages will really help them “copy” the melody of the language.
• Lyrical music helps them to remember pronunciation and vocabulary.
• Kids love kids music! Their ears naturally atune to the melody and words without realising it. They’ll be humming it and singing bits long after you’ve turned it off.
• Stories in songs engage your child!

… and what is the difference between an integrative and an influential motivator?

The saying that language is “best learned between the sheets” is a perfect example of an integrative motivating factor.

Integrative motivation is when an individual learns a foreign language, say for instance Spanish, with the aim of integrating into Spanish society. The language is being used as a tool for communicating and building relationships within the culture of the Spanish language.

People who learn a second or foreign language in order to achieve a separate goal are instrumentally motivated. In this instance, learning the language is not an end in itself but rather a means by which to achieve that accomplishment, whether professional or personal.

… it comes with physical and psychological health benefits as well

Thanks to multiple studies on the The benefits of learning another language, we’re all now much more familiar with the many cognitive gains that come from learning, and being able to communicate in, a second language. And it follows on that this has enabled us to better appreciate why beginning the language learning journey in your child’s early years – when new cognitive connections are most readily formed – can make the difference between knowing another language, and owning it.

But did you know that the benefits extend beyond cognitive brain function and into the realm of physiological and overall wellbeing too?

(Read on for full infographic)

It gets their children using the language quickly and naturally

“As parents, we know that engaging pre-schoolers in any activity, particularly new activities, is a big challenge but I have found the Spanish group teacher has all the right tricks through song, dance and group activities to bring even the shyest toddler along and engaged in learning. My three year old takes a while to open up but wow with only two lessons she has become mad keen to sing along in Spanish after each lesson, she sings in the car, at home and can’t wait for Friday to come along and use her new skills. Not only is she picking up words in Spanish at the speed of lightning but it also doing wonders for her confidence in a group setting.’ Thank you. (Susie, Adelaide)

“Since joining the French for Kids Club, Alexandra is exciting about anything to do about Paris, Eiffel Tower, French etc. She likes to learn more about French at home and me and my wife just can’t believe how she pronounce the words with the French accent.” (French for Kids club, Newcastle, NSW)

An experience of France, Spain or Italy without the travelling!

Most parents dream of travelling internationally with their kids one day, and introducing them to the many varied and wonderful cultures of the world.  But the family budget, whether one of time or money, is not always on the same page as your dreams!  

The world is changing and technology has connected continents like never before. Within seconds, we hear about triumphs or tragedies happening in far off places. This is the world in which our children live and we have the privilege, and the responsibility, of introducing them to its beauties, its cultures, and even its challenges.

We can help give children an opportunity to discover and learn about another culture, its language and its traditions. 

LCF Fun Languages are pleased to be offering schools the chance to have a complimentary culture session.  Games, food, songs, activities and local culture for children to enjoy.

Our one hour sessions are aimed at introducing children to the culture and a little bit of language, the main aim is to engage children’s imagination so they want to know more.