FROM THE OMEGA BLOG

Studying a Foreign Language in School

Studying a Foreign Language in School
Today, quick access to information and easy movement to every point on the planet give us almost unlimited opportunities. One thing would be a barrier to taking full advantage of them, and that is not knowing any foreign language.  There's hardly anyone who doesn't know about this, and when you're a parent, the task is even more responsible. The questions surrounding the start of foreign language training in children are many, today we will try to facilitate you with some practical advice.  Children learn quickly from a very young age. Many times they are able, imitating television shows, for example, to learn many words and phrases in a foreign language. Most often this is English, as it speaks in some of the most popular children's channels. And here comes the first logical question:  

What language should the child teach in primary school?

  Should he continue with English after he has touched it, or should he bet on another and then turn it on as a second?  The choice of first foreign language is usually predestined by the educational establishment where children are admitted. It's most often English. How, though, do you decide if you have a choice between - German, French or Spanish, for example?  If your choice is not subject to a specific need, for example, going to a foreign country, then you can approach it in several ways:
  1. Choose English - it will make the child easier because he will have some, albeit minimal knowledge of language. The choice is practical because it is also the most universal and applicable foreign language. 
  2. You choose German. - He's harder, so some specialists recommend starting with him. Thus, from an early age the student will gain a sense and memorize basic words and grammatical rules. 
  3. You choose French. - a very difficult and specific language. It's suitable for a first stranger just because of its peculiarities. Children learn by imitation and will much easier to perceive and master specific intonations and pronunciation in French. 
 

A second foreign language choice in high school?

It depends on the first foreign, and the most common combinations are English-French, English-German, English-Spanish. Of course, other options are possible that schools offer. Here you can approach again from the point of view of the practical need for language - where it plans to study higher education or to live the high school student in the future or possibly the profession he is headed towards.  And if you chose a language other than English for start, it is logical to include it at this stage of education.   

Example of appropriate combinations 

  1. English - German - They are from the same group - in German, they have close words that will facilitate the transition between the two regardless of who you started with. 
  2. English - French - French is a Romance language and is quite different from English. However, the combination is suitable because both are extremely useful due to their enormous distribution. 
  3. English - Spanish - Spanish is the most common Romance language in the world. It is also considerably easier than French and German, making it an attractive choice for a second foreign language. 
As we said above, the combinations are many and it is best to choose first of all from the point of view of the interests of the child itself. Try to understand which language he likes or who he's more interested in because of a passion for music, cinema or other art or science. Because the most important condition for success in learning foreign languages is motivation.  And if you need help in the transition from one language to another, further improvement or motivation - you can rely on professionals at Omega Language School. More about our children's courses can be found here https://omegals.bg/kursove/za-deca Or you can call us personally. +359 878 566 537 or 02/423 21 21
An unexpected error occurred. Reload 🗙