Parent to Parent: Language

WSVN -- For Frances, speaking three languages is as easy as learning her ABCs. It seems normal to this 5-year-old who has been exposed to three languages since birth.

Yves Prager: "The reality is that she will speak three languages because I am French, my wife is Cuban, and her country is America."

Yves admits that teaching his little girl was a natural process.

Yves Prager: "To learn English, to learn French, to learn Spanish, the best way to begin as a little baby."

This group of kindergartners at North Beach Elementary are fluent in English and Spanish.

Maritere Gonzalez: "Repetition, I think its very important for them to listen, repeat and know what it means."

Her best advice for parents is to make the experience fun.

Maritere Gonzalez: "When you sing a song they like make it fun. That's one of the things they have to do, make it fun for the child, so it will not be monotonous."

Seven's parenting expert Dr. Valerie Goode says children who learn a new language early on have an added advantage later on in their lives.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "Older children are more conceptual, you know. They are better able to form concepts because they are forced to think in a different way about the same subject."

And living in a place like South Florida, there are practical benefits to being bilingual.

Dr. Valerie Goode: "We live in a diverse community, so it's important to understand the way other cultures live."

Dr. Val says if you want to teach your children, help them learn by using flash cards, pictures, and that will help them memorize the words. If you live in a bilingual home, speak to the child in both languages.

Lynn Martinez: "If you want to enroll your child in classes, South Florida has several schools that offer bilingual programs."

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Dr. Valerie Goode
http://www.drvaleriegoode.com/