Learning a foreign language is not merely a tool to bridge communication barriers, it is also a foundation to a healthy brain. A significant portion of studies have proved that there is a strong correlation between language and human's memory.
Exposing ourselves to one particular language helps extend our vocabulary. In our traditional life, a kid in rural areas or most of regencies throughout Indonesia at least knows two different languages. This eases communication between two generations and bridge meanings of two different languages at the same time. Not only did children grow up with more words stored in their brain, but also they can easily understand diverse topics spoken within subculture domains. Therefore, kids raised with two languages often inherit the ability to express things contextually due to the amount of vocabulary they learn throughout childhood.
Hearing different sounds of languages is likely to build better focus. In most of our activities, especially learning, focus is mostly likely needed. Surprisingly, one can sharpen a skill to focus while learning two to three different languages.
Even more exciting, kids who get an opportunity to hear their parents talk in two languages have free access to increase their attention span. While human's brain gradually develops by itself through outside triggers, kids may benefit more from exchanging two languages within family routine talks. As a result, by the time they reach adulthood, kids develop better focus and thus lead them to be equipped with a strong memory capacity.
Spending time with older family members gives kids the ability to absorb huge amount of knowledge. We all know that in order to learn well, one needs to be fun.
Oftentimes, older people appreciate kids and communicate nicely with them. What's more, senior citizens also love to talk diverse topics, which often share life lessons in their daily conversations. Hence, kids most likely absorb irrelevant knowledge with regards to age appropriateness, yet those messages are incredibly beneficial in their future life. When it comes to knowledge, all matters though it is not carried out with the right people.
So, knowing those incredible benefits, why not start introducing our kids to two different languages while they are still young? understandably, for some families, the real problem is that they don't have the languages they want to transfer to their beloved ones. Especially those living in cities or urban areas, most parents know only one particular language and that makes it hard to bring communication alive at home.
However, today's life is somehow easier when parents can put technology in the right hands. This means kids can still learn a foreign language from exposing themselves to the right sources online.
Nevertheless, parents have to facilitate the tools necessarily and accordingly as needed. If not, kids may not get to a level where learning a foreign language is considered essential.
The roles of parents may seem to not only help kids learn the right way, but to guide them learn the appropriate contents consistently. Eventually, kids will be able to use two languages to their benefits and make their life a little healthier than ordinary kids around them.