Learning a second language is vital to the development of young minds, says Eton Institute

Learning foreign languages at an early age develops the cognitive skills and creativity in children, says Eton Institute, the largest professional training and language centre in the UAE. Early childhood is the best time to introduce a second language to children, when they still possess the capacity to develop near native-like pronunciation and intonation in a new language.

A recent study conducted by the Institute proves that children who learn a foreign language beginning in early childhood demonstrate certain cognitive advantages over children who do not, and when adequately exposed to two or more languages at an early age, they are more flexible and creative. Kids also are open and accepting of people who speak other languages and come from other cultures, teaching them cultural awareness at an early age.

Moaz Khan, Marketing Manager at Eton Institute commented: “Young children are natural language learners. Unlike adults, they are self-motivated to pick-up a language without conscious learning and have the ability to learn through play-like activities shared with an adult or other multilingual children.”

Foreign language learning increases critical thinking skills, creativity, and flexibility of mind in young children. Multilingual children perform better than their monolingual counterparts in the verbal, as well as the math sections of standardized tests. This relationship between foreign language study and increased mathematical skill development, particularly in the area of problem solving, demonstrates that second language learning is more of a cognitive than linguistic activity.

Eton Institute offers fun language activities for kids in the summer months, where children will learn a foreign language through games, music, and creative expression. Designed to provide a fun and immersive learning environment, the language activities include arts and crafts, puppet theatre, and story-telling. These fun language learning activities are offered in six popular languages – Arabic, English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish – and are divided into three age groups, 4-7, 8-11 and 12-16.

Also offered is the interactive and “hands-on” American Sign Language course that will teach kids and teens an alternative method of communication and develop motor skills through the basics of signing.

For more information on Eton Institute’s summer courses and special offers, call 800-3866, visit www.eton.ac or email [email protected], or join Eton Institute on Facebook or Twitter to receive the latest updates.