What Language Should Your Kids Learn? 7 Great Options – Plus Learning Tips

It is well known that languages are often easier to learn the younger you are, so it makes sense for kids to learn additional languages.

If you are looking at potential foreign languages for your child to learn, you will want to consider the difficulty level.

But you will also want to consider which languages would be most useful for your kid to learn to help him or her progress in life as an adult. For instance, your kid could learn a language that is in demand in the top global industries.

Here are just seven language options that you could consider, followed by some useful learning tips.

1.   Spanish

Spanish is a very good choice for your kid to learn because it is the second-most widely spoken language in the United States and the fourth-most widely spoken language on the planet.

Furthermore, Spanish is a Romance language, which means it shares the same Latin routes as other languages like Italian and French. Therefore, once your kid has learned the basics of Spanish, it will be easier for him or her to learn another Romance language.

Learning any language and maintaining interest in it can be quite difficult for children, so it would be very good if one or both of the parents took lessons with native-level teachers, because in just six months or a year, the parents will be able to communicate freely in Spanish and speak it with the child. He will always hear the language from his mother or father and thus learn many words and expressions without even realizing it.

2.   French

French is the fifth-most widely spoken language in the United States and it is the first language in several countries around the world, not just France.

So, French can be a good choice for kids to learn.

3.   German

German is also spoken in multiple countries.

Furthermore, many German companies have offices in the United States. So, learning German could help your children to gain more job opportunities when they grow up.

4.   Chinese

While Chinese, which includes languages like Cantonese and Mandarin, is certainly more challenging to learn than European languages, it is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, so it could be very useful for your kids to learn a form of Chinese.

Furthermore, people who learn Chinese at a young age tend to find the language easier to learn than adults.

5.   Arabic

Arabic can also be a good choice of language for your kid to learn.

In fact, it is fast becoming one of the most in-demand languages in the world because it is used in various industries.

If you want to prepare your child for working in various global industries, Arabic could be a great option.

6.   Russian

Russian is another great choice. Not only is it the eighth-most widely spoken language in the world. It is also one of the most in-demand languages in a variety of industries, such as technology, cybersecurity, and politics.

There are many Russian-speaking communities in the United States and Russian is spoken in multiple European countries, not just Russia, so it could make a lot of sense for your kid to learn this language.

7.   American Sign Language

One language that is often overlooked as a potential language to learn is American Sign Language.

If your kid learns how to sign, he or she will be able to communicate with members of the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Learning Tips

Now you know some of the foreign language options that are available for your kids to learn, you need to think about ways in which you can help your children learn better.

Study with Your Kid

Regardless of the study method your child adopts, such as enrolling in online classes or studying from books, you can assist and encourage your kid by studying with him or her. By doing so, you can help your kid to strengthen his or her skills.

Make it Fun

Kids often learn better when learning activities that are entertaining, so look at ways in which you can make the learning process more fun. For instance, your child could watch some of his or her favorite TV shows and movies with subtitles in the language that is being learned.

Join Study Groups

Even if your kid is part of an online study group, it can be very helpful for kids to spend time with other children who are learning the same language so that they can speak that language together and share any learning problems with one another. So, look for local study groups that your kid could join.