When I tell people that at Club Petit Pierrot we teach French to children from as young as eight months old, they generally look at me as if I am completely mad! No wonder people are surprised. We are teaching a second language to children who, at this stage of their young lives, do not even speak their mother tongue. No, I can assure you that I am not mad. It is extremely important to start learning a second language as early as possible in life, since it becomes much more difficult to become proficient in another language the closer we get to adulthood.

Why should children learn a foreign language as early as possible?

Children are born with an innate ability to develop language. Most of us leant our mother tongue effortlessly. Through a similar process to this a young child is able to learn a second language. At six months old a child is capable of reproducing any sound. However by the age of ten months old, a child is already starting to eliminate sounds from his/her vocabulary which are not part of his/her mother tongue. If you wish to give your child the best chance of achieving fluency with no, or little, discernible accent, learning a second language should definitely start before adolescence. But, the earlier the better. Babies and young children have an insatiable appetite to learn and communicate. Uninhibited, they do not mind in which language they do this, as long as the exchange they have is full of meaning, and is fun!

How can children learn a second language?

Children have an amazing capacity to absorb and retain a language. Total immersion is the most effective way of developing fluency in a language. Through a communicative approach children will absorb the language easily. The environment should be nurturing and provide opportunities for real communication to take place. Fun and stimulating age-appropriate activities (such as dancing, singing, arts and crafts, games, role-play etc) will allow the children to learn effortlessly and enjoy communicating in this language. Dynamic native teachers, who are experienced in working with young children, will ensure that the experience is fun, fulfilling and engaging. In brief, they will learn through play!

Advantages of Learning a second language

All research in this area has proven, and indeed language experts agree, that learning a second language early in life enhances overall cognitive skills and improves brain development. Studies have shown repeatedly that foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, problem-solving skills and flexibility of mind in young children. Students who are learning a foreign language out-score their non-foreign language-learning peers in the verbal and, surprisingly to some, the maths sections of standardized tests.

• Wonderful head start - Children will not struggle when starting a language at school. They will be confident and well ahead of their peers.
• Native and authentic accent
• Chance to explore another culture, to develop an open mind, to broaden a child’s horizons. Each language brings with it its culture, its way of thinking and its own sense of humour.
• Flourish and develop socially in a group activity
• Have fun as a family when learning together (such as parent and toddler foreign language groups)
• Confidence in a foreign language broadens the choice of university and career options later in life.
• Last but not least, it will be so much fun when your own mini-linguist goes to the “boulangerie” to buy your croissants and baguette, and speaks with a fluency that will shock even the French locals!

Club Petit Pierrot teaches French to children from eight months old in their many clubs, in crêches, nursery and primary schools and also offers private tuition across London. For venues and more information about their original and carefully structured programmes, please visit www.clubpetitpierrot.co.uk or call 020 7385 5565.