Language learning is a necessary part of an international school education in Bangkok. Kids raised and educated in a multi-language environment use their language learning skills every day. The more opportunities they get to use these developing language skills, the easier and smoother it becomes to absorb and integrate the necessary rules of grammar, intonation patterns, structures and other areas of the languages.
Children are more naturally gifted at learning languages. Their brains are developing rapidly and have greater plasticity and ease in forming new neural connections and pathways regarding language acquisition. Kids also often demonstrate a natural fluency and talent in picking up native accents. This ability tends to decline as people mature.
BASIS International School Bangkok is a Thailand-based international school. We’ll offer several language learning tips that can help them in their international school studies and make their home learning experience more rewarding while maintaining the relevance of their studies.
The Four Areas of Language Learning
Kids are taught that there are four areas of language learning: reading, writing, speaking, and listening, and they have to become fluent in all of them to maintain the communication levels required in a multi-language learning environment. Schoolwork exercises the student’s reading and writing skills throughout the school day. The students often have to complete school assignments in non-native languages. They often must express what they’ve read and absorbed from books and research materials in their own words and submit their work in writing.
However, students who become comfortable and proficient in this type of schoolwork may also develop a deficiency in their speaking and listening skills. We encourage parents to help develop their kid’s weaker areas of language learning by encouraging them to use other types of media to submit their assignments.
Using the Tools Around Us to Learn
As an example, your child might be asked to submit a narrated video on a certain topic. The idea is to use the tools available to develop all four language learning areas. Encourage your child to watch movies or educational videos in non-native languages to help develop their listening skills. Reading aloud helps develop their tonality and pronunciation skills.
If the child is demonstrating problems remembering certain commonly used phrases, handy flashcards they can carry with them can help them remember until they become fluent.
Gaining Fluency in All Your Languages
Basis International School Bangkok teaches classes mostly in English. This means that English is used for approximately 75% of the school day, and Thai and other languages are used the rest of the time. We encourage our students who are native speakers of English to concentrate more on Thai and other languages when at home. Encourage your child to watch mostly Thai TV programs or Chinese movies and programs if they’re studying the Chinese language.
The goal is to gain fluency in all their languages. Being in an environment where they have to switch languages frequently or translate for other family members helps to build this cross-language fluency.
Focusing on the Unfamiliar Language
Frequently focusing on the language your child is weaker in and having them speak and listen to the languages in a home environment as well as at school provides more of a “workout” in the deficient language skills. This helps them raise their fluency in their deficient language and continue developing their languages equally.
Enroll Your Child in a Chinese Language Program at BASIS
Beginning in the first grade, BASIS International School Bangkok offers an optional after-school program taught in Chinese by qualified Chinese language and culture teachers. The program helps build skills and confidence in communicating in Chinese. Children who participate in this program will be prepared to successfully complete the AP Chinese Language & Culture Exam in high school.
Contact BASIS International School Bangkok to learn more about our school’s role in helping your child explore and learn languages.