A shared language is central to many families, and this can carry extra meaning when your children are growing up in a country that speaks a different language. It's not just about words; it's about culture, identity and connection. If you'd like to teach your kids the language that holds a special place in your heart, here are some tips to get you started.
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Begin introducing the language as soon as possible, but remember that it’s never too late to start. The key is to consistently integrate the language into your child’s life. If they’re older, engage them with age-appropriate materials and activities to spark their interest.
Create an environment where the language is a natural part of daily life. Use it during specific times of the day – like breakfast or bedtime – and incorporate it into everyday activities. This constant exposure helps your child become comfortable with the language.
Incorporate games, songs and storytelling to make learning enjoyable. Use apps and online resources that offer interactive language exercises. The goal is to make learning dynamic and engaging so your child looks forward to it. Additionally, having TV shows or radio programs in the language can also be beneficial for them; you can find a lot of these on YouTube and other media hosting sites.
Make the language a part of your daily routines. Use it during meals, while shopping, or during playtime. Consistency is crucial, so choose specific times or activities where you always use the language.
Create a supportive environment where mistakes are part of the learning process. Celebrate achievements, no matter how small, to build your child’s confidence and motivation. Positive reinforcement goes a long way in language learning.
Arrange regular interactions with fluent speakers. This could be through family, friends or community events. Real-life conversations provide practical experience and help your child understand different accents and dialects.
Introduce your child to cultural stories, traditions and customs associated with the language. Many countries have their own folk tales, which can be a great way to expose children to the language. This not only enriches their vocabulary but also deepens their cultural understanding and appreciation.
Establish specific, realistic goals for language learning. Whether it’s mastering a set number of words each month or being able to hold a simple conversation, having clear objectives keeps your child motivated and focused.
Demonstrate your commitment to the language by using it yourself. Share your own learning experiences and challenges. Your enthusiasm and dedication will inspire your child to embrace the language with the same passion.
Encourage your child to ask questions and explore the language. Answer their queries and engage in discussions about words, phrases, and cultural nuances. This curiosity-driven approach deepens their understanding and keeps them engaged.
Highlight the advantages of being bilingual, such as enhanced cognitive skills and cultural awareness. Remind your child of the unique opportunities and perspectives that come with knowing multiple languages – it will also be helpful when they’re adults in the working world too.
By incorporating these strategies, you’ll be well on your way to successfully teaching your kids the family language, ensuring they carry forward a rich cultural legacy.
Teaching your kids your family language is a journey filled with dedication and countless rewarding moments. It’s about more than just words; it’s about connecting them to their roots and equipping them to navigate a diverse world.
Read our blog posts 'English: the best second language for your child to learn' and 'What are the most spoken languages in the world?'
English is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world, but how much do you know about the language? Here are 11 facts about English that you might not know.
Students all over the globe learn English for many reasons. Some of these motivations may come from the students themselves – perhaps they are learning because they are travelling to an English-speaking area, or they want to be able to converse with English-speaking friends and colleagues. Other reasons for learning could include meeting school requirements, studying abroad, or progressing their careers.
As well as different reasons to learn English, there are also different goals. Many students are still focused on becoming fluent in English, and we are seeing an increase in people who want to learn the language for specific reasons. For example, immersing themselves in a particular culture or simply being able to order from a menu while travelling abroad.
Teachers are focusing on these personal needs to help students achieve their actual goals. It’s likely you’ve already spoken to your students about why they want to learn English. Understanding this is important as different motivations can influence a student’s attitude towards learning the language – and it may be necessary for you to adapt your teaching strategies for different groups of learners.
Let’s meet some different groups of students, learn a little more about their motivations and explore whether different motivations alter how students learn English. You may recognise some of these learners in your classes.
These students are learning English for pleasure or personal reasons. It might be because of travel, social or family reasons or perhaps because a better grasp of English might assist them with their careers. There are also adult learners who could be learning English as an immigration requirement.
For example, 23-year-old Alice decided to learn English so she could meet people and have more meaningful interactions with her English-speaking neighbours. She says: “I was very shy and not very confident in speaking to people, but learning English helped me connect with others and meet new people. I have changed a lot.”
A motivation like Alice’s requires strong teacher support and peer motivation woven into structured learning. Alice can set her goals and with the GSE Learning Objectives map out what she needs to do to achieve them. Teacher encouragement and personal support – and easy access to digital coursework, a social community of others all learning English, and small classes that emphasise conversation – keep people like Alice engaged and motivated to achieve her language goals. “I cannot do it without them”, she says.
These learners are typically in a more formal type of English programme and are learning the language to achieve specific career milestones, such as a promotion. Their employer might even be paying for their learning or they might be reimbursed for the cost of their lessons.
Vincenzo is 33 and works as a Product Manager in Milan for an international organization with offices around the world. He says: “I asked to take English classes as part of my professional development. My company chose an English provider and gave me a choice of group or one-to-one classes. I chose one-to-one classes as I’m easily distracted.”
Professional learners like Vincenzo succeed using a blended learning model of learning in class and at home that they can tailor around their lives. They have a strong motivation to succeed – that’s why learning at home works for them – but step-by-step progress provided by the GSE Learning Objectives is also important to keep this motivation alive. “I met with my teacher once a week where we would work on mistakes I would make while speaking English. He would also give me extra practice materials, like interesting games and videos to listen to in my own time, to help me really get a better understanding of the language,” Vincenzo says.
Learning English is a requirement for many school programmes and students will continue this at college or university. Many of these students will be learning English with a formal course that offers practice tests for high-stakes exams.
Seventeen-year-old Subra is from Malaysia and learns English at school. Some of her family live in Australia and she is considering studying abroad to attend a University that specializes in health care. When she was young, she learned in a traditional classroom backed with tests that helped her see how she was progressing. Now she uses technology, such as her Android Huawei phone to practise her English but still needs the validation of regular testing to know she is on track.
Subra says: “I am used to studying for tests as I prepared hard for exams to get into middle school and senior school, which was totally determined by test results.”
Academic learners like Subra need to see demonstrable results to help them stay motivated and guide them to the level of English they need to achieve to get the required score on high-stakes tests. With the clear GSE Learning Objectives and a placement test, academic learners can map out where they are right now and where they need to be in order to reach their academic goals. These learners need encouragement and validation of their progress from their teachers to help keep them on track.
Understanding student motivations will help you teach to their specific needs, thus helping them to stay focused and motivated in achieving their goals.
Imagine planning a trip to a new city. Sure, you could wander around on your own, relying on internet reviews and vague directions, or you could hire a tour guide... someone who knows the streets, understands the landmarks, and can give you a genuine and knowledge-filled experience.
Now, would you pick a tour guide who just started last week, or would you look to one who has been showing people around for decades, refining their approach and knowing all the ins and outs of the landscape?
That’s the difference experience makes.
Just like an expert guide ensures you experience the best parts of a city because they’ve explored every corner before, a test backed by years of research and constant refinement delivers reliable, accurate results for international admissions teams. Pearson has spent years perfecting its approach to language assessment, not only through research but also by learning from every test taken.
Each test provides valuable data, feeding into ongoing improvements, ensuring that assessments remain fair, precise, and aligned with real-world English proficiency needs.
The result? Universities can trust they’re admitting students based on a system that gets smarter with every exam, reducing unpredictability and reinforcing reliability.
Both PTE Academic and Pearson English Express Test benefit from Pearson’s expertise:
When you pick the right guide who is backed with expertise, it can transform your experience from ordinary to unforgettable. Likewise, choosing a well-established proficiency test, refined through years of experience, gives universities the confidence to make informed admissions decisions.
Pearson has spent decades perfecting the science of language assessment—so why leave such a critical choice to uncertainty?
