Research proves that children who are exposed to a second language at an
early age not only achieve much better results in languages, but also in math,
science and music, and in general helps build brain power and cognitive skills.

Key Benefits for Children Who Learn a
Second Language in Early Childhood:

Enhances your child's critical thinking skills.
Children who receive even small amounts of second - language instruction
are more creative and better at solving complex problems than those who do not.
Young children learn easily to think in two languages. Through that understanding
will trigger the essential abstract thinking skills that are the basic tools for further learning.

Enriches child's mental development.
Research suggests that learning a second language at an early age can enrich
mental development. Babies and toddlers who have being exposed to a second
language at an early age may have higher IQ scores.

Boosts brainpower, vocabulary and self- esteem.
Learning another language enhances a child's English ability. A young child can easily learn that a flower and una flor have the same meaning, and that one is in English and the other in Spanish. Children can learn much about English by learning the structure of other languages. Children who have the ability to switch naturally between languages, and being able to talk to different people in those languages, make children feel very good about themselves and their abilities. A sense of real ownership of both Spanish and English can do wonders to help raise a child's self-esteem.

Enhances academic skills
In fact, children enrolled in foreign language programs score statistically higher
on standardized tests conducted in English. A number of College Entrance Examination
Board reports have demonstrated that children who have learned a second language
earn higher SAT scores, particularly on the verbal section of the test.

ARTICLES

Why learning languages at an early age?

Why, How, and When Should My Child Learn a Second Language? by Kathleen Marcos , the Center for Applied Linguistics in Washington, D.C.

Brain Research: Implications for Second Language Learning by Fred Genesee, McGill University, December 2000

Bilingual Acquisition by Fred Genesee, McGill University, Montreal Quebec

Can Preschool Children Be Taught a Second Language by Jeannette Vos Ed,V

Two or More Languages in Early Childhood by Annick De Houwer, University of Antwerp and Science Foundation of Flanders, Belgium

The impact of bilingualism on overall language development Article from Brainy-child.com-B

Fostering Second Language Development in Young Children This Digest is based on a report published by the National Center for Research on Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning, Fostering Second Language Development in Young Children: Principles and Practices (1995), by Barry McLaughlin.

Bilingual kids not slowed by second tongue by The News in Science.

Bilingual Children Understand Written Languages Sooner Than Monolingual Children, Study Finds Article: Effects of Bilingualism and Biliteracy on Children's Emerging concepts of Print' by Ellen Bialystok, Ph.D., York University, in Developmental Psychology, Vol. 33, No. 3.

Bilingualism: Common Concerns and Misconceptions

Ten Common Fallacies About Bilingual Education By James Crawford, Washington, DC

Myths about Learning a Second Language By Annick De Houwer

Does Introducing a Foreign Language Confuse Your Child?

Raising Bilingual Children by Marsha Rosenberg. Reprinted from: The Ambassador, The American School in Japan Alumni & Community Magazine Spring 1996

Children and Bilingualism By American Speech-Language-Hearing Association

IFA Paper: UCL Survey on Bilingualism and Stuttering By James Au-Yeung, Peter Howell, Steve Davis, Nicole Charles and Stevie Sackin

Helping Families From Other Cultures Decide on How to Talk To Their Child with Language Delays By Claire Watson, Senior S-LP, The Hanen Centre

Stuttering and the Bilingual Child By Stuttering Foundation of America

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

Nanduti is a wonderful resource on foreign language learning in grades K-8

National Network for Early Language Learning

American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages

The Pennsylvania State Modern Language Association

National Clearinghouse for English Language Acquisition

NABE - National Association for Bilingual Education

The National Capital Language Resource Center

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

For Teachers

Practical Handbook to Elementary Foreign Language Programs: (Files) Including Sequential Fles, Flex, and Immersion Programs by Gladys C. Lipton

Teacher To Teach Model Lessons For K-8 Foreign Language by Mary Lynn Redmond, Eileen Lorenz

For Parents

For Children

EXCELLENT WEBSITES

Ana Lomba  World language materials for Young Children created by Ana Lomba.  Ana is the co-author of "Play and Learn Spanish" and "Play and Learn French" (Lomba, Summerville 2005).