Headstart Children’s Language School was co-founded by Michelle Collins and Christina Rock, who both are highly qualified language teaching tutors. The children’s language classes are held at the Parish Centre, Castlebar, and tutors Michelle and Christina offer the following advice:
Learning Young
Early childhood is the best time for foreign language acquisition. Between birth and adolescence the brain is hard-wired to acquire languages naturally. As a result, children build a second language system alongside, not through, the first language. Children who learn a language young easily develop a native-like fluency and flawless accent which can present many benefits and opportunities.
Advanced cognitive skills
Children who learn a second language young show improved overall school performance, superior problem-solving skills, stronger overall communication skills, enhanced spatial relations and heightened creativity. Learning a foreign language also encourages flexible thinking, helping children consider issues from more than one perspective.
Children can learn much about English by learning the structure of other languages. Students can reflect on their own language's sentence structure and compare and contrast.
Children also feel good about having a new skill that most of their peers and sometimes even their parents and closest relatives do not master.
At Headstart, tutors endeavour to exercise both sides of the brain in a fun stimulating environment using song, rhyme, dance and resources such as flashcards and word cards.
For more information contact Michelle on 086 3931891.
