when is the right time to teach second (third / fourth etc) language?

Hi!
 
Hopefully someone else will be able to point you to some research about the best window for teaching a second language.  What I've heard is "the younger the better" and have read that someone trying to learn a new language after age 10 is unlikely to ever speak it "like a native".  
 
Also, our website has this article on fostering language development in young children that you might find helpful.  http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Fostering_Language/
 
Are you thinking of teaching your kids another language?  Do you or your partner speak a language other than English?  I'm so envious of parents who have the opportunity to raise bilingual kids...it's such a great gift to give them!
 
Kat
Education.com Community Team

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Hello,
I'll second Kat and say just keep speaking the two languages.
My son is 3+ and I've been talking and reading to him in Hebrew since he was born.
He answer back in English, but he understand everything I say.

From what I heard the best is if the same parents speak only in one language to the kid.
I must admit that I do fall to English sometime, but I try to repeat new words in both English and Hebrew and ask my son to repeat in both languages as well.

I have many friends that raise bilingual kids and it takes sometime 4-5 years before they make the distinction between the languages. Eventually it happened.

Be persistent and it will pay off.

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