For French children, learning English does not come naturally. If your child wants to learn English, you’ll need to put some effort into finding the right way to help them learn and making the necessary time in their busy schedule. The school holidays are the best time for kids to spend time learning something new or develop a skill they already have: they have all the time in the world and need something to keep them occupied while school is closed. This winter, here are four tips you can use to help your kids learn English during the Christmas holidays:
1. Stock up on English books
For kids that already know a little bit of English, the very best way to learn more and stay motivated is reading lots and lots of books in English. Do some research online and find bookstores that stock children’s books in English and plan a trip together at the beginning of the holiday. You can also check out bookinbar.com for age-appropriate books in English. Teach them how to use a computer to look up words that they don’t know. Not only will their vocabulary grow, but they’ll start to understand the benefits of being able to grasp a second language as they gain access to a world of new books.
2. Find a native English babysitter or nanny
Of course, the winter holidays are also a time for the parents to relax and go out together. Make the most of this by finding a native English babysitter, au pair or nanny to take care of the kids while you’re out. Your kids will pick up English in no time! Buy some games to help practicing vocabulary, and ask your babysitter to help the kids to learn the language actively. And of course, make sure that they spend plenty of time reading English books together.
3. English immersion home stays with native English families
If you think your kids are ready to spend a week away from home during the Christmas holidays, an English immersion will really jump-start their English skills. By staying with native speakers who have kids the same age, your children will effortlessly pick up English words and expressions and get used to communicating in English. Daily English offers wonderful home stays with warm, loving and reliable families, where your kids will have the time of their lives!
4. Watch English movies with the whole family
Getting your kids to learn English doesn’t have to be difficult. The important thing is to expose them to English one way or another. If you want to keep things simple, just plan a few movie nights where you watch English language movies together. The more they hear English around them, the more comfortable they’ll become and the easier they’ll learn!
Winter holidays are a great time for kids to learn something new, but you don’t want to make them feel like they’re in school! These four tips offer great ways to introduce English learning into your children’s holiday while keeping the holiday feeling.