3 Reasons Your Child Should Learn Spanish and How To Teach Them

2/14/2018

Sponsored by Baptist Health

If you’re considering teaching your child a second language, Spanish would be a good choice. Here's why . . .

With Spanish coming in ahead of English as the second mostly widely native-spoken language in the world, the advantages to becoming bilingual are many—especially for Floridians! Here are just three reasons why your child should be learning Spanish as a second language:

The Spanish-Speaking Population is Growing
Information from the 2017 U.S. Census Bureau reports that one in five people in Florida are Hispanic. As the population in South Florida continues to grow in diversity, bilingual speakers will likely be much more culturally aware and have an advantage when it comes to competing in the job market.
Bilingual Students Can Share the Gospel Across Cultures
Teaching your child to communicate in Spanish has a significant impact on their ability to go out into the world and share the gospel with one of the largest populations in the world. It will also equip them to become young men and women who are more linguistically and culturally wise, while fostering a deeper understanding of the world. This exposure and fluency will allow them to cross cultural boundaries more effectively in their adulthood and continue the mission of making disciples of Jesus.
The best time for someone to begin learning a second language is between infancy and age 7.
Bilingual Students Report Better Cognitive Abilities
Children who speak more than one language have an intellectual advantage. According to information published by add.a.lingua, “research has found that the higher the proficiency in a second language, the higher a child’s test scores will be in English reading, writing, math, and science.”

The Easiest Way to Teach Your Child Spanish

According to studies, the best time for someone to begin learning a second language is between infancy and age 7—the brain is at its most flexible state within this window. Probably the easiest way for a non-native speaker to teach their child Spanish is to have them learn it at school and then reinforce it in the home. Pre-K4–1st grade students have the opportunity to start learning all of their core subjects in Spanish through the Spanish Immersion program at Calvary Christian Academy. “In a language immersion program, the classroom environment becomes the setting for language acquisition through subject content instruction and social interaction,” said CCA’s Elementary School Principal. Essentially, Spanish is integrated into their everyday life.

What Parents Are Saying

For parents who are not Spanish-speakers themselves, the idea of helping their child with homework in Spanish may seem intimidating. Now that their child has participated in the Spanish Immersion program, here’s what parents are saying:

“We've had a great experience so far with our daughter in first grade. She's adopted Spanish extremely well without any regression in her reading/writing in English."—CCA Parent

"If you are considering it, take the leap. Put aside your own questions or anxiety and embrace something new. You won’t regret it!"—add.a.lingua Parent

If you are interested in learning more, or would like your child to participate in the Spanish Immersion program at Calvary Christian Academy, contact Dawn Vitulli at DawnV@CCAEagles.org.

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