7 Writing Practices to Help Your Kids Learn Italian Language

Have you returned from the vacation in Italy and found your child extremely excited about the country, its people, and language? Do you plan to move to Italy so that everybody in your family must start learning Italian? In any case, you will need to help your kids as learning techniques for children and adults are different.

Peculiarities of Learning

It is a common belief that children learn new languages easier than adults. Scientific research not only supports the idea but provides more specific details:

• Children acquire a second language by exposure or in natural situations’ simulations quicker than adults.
• In classroom situations, older children perform better than adults and young children.
• Children are better in foreign language pronunciation learning while adults learn grammatical components a little better.
• Children’s brain grows, changes, and adapts, that’s why children can achieve native speakers’ level easier.

Simultaneously, writing practices appear to be equally demanding on all levels, but they are essential in language acquisition. If you want your kids to speak Italian as fluently as their native language, you will need to dedicate some time and effort as well.

Where to Start?

Watching Italian Movies

Educational opportunities provided by a foreign film go beyond mere language acquisition. Children embrace the culture and atmosphere of the nation, given that you have chosen kid-friendly original movies. You may also choose your kids’ favorite Disney movies dubbed into Italian and this will definitely increase their interest. “Where is the writing component?” you may ask. Indeed, children will just sit and enjoy a good movie, but the trick here is to encourage them to do so by listening to the original audio and Italian subtitles. Ask them to write down unknown words and find out their meaning later. Trying to understand the plot and events provided entirely in Italian will create the necessary immersion level which is essential for learning.

Labels on Things

Enhancing vocabulary is one of the inseparable parts of language acquisition. At the same time, children need to learn easy and relevant vocabulary items first. Before learning the complex vocabulary needed for academic writing, essays, and other school tasks provided in Italian, your child needs to get acquainted with easier vocabulary and names of everyday objects. Sticking name cards with Italian words on objects in your house will be a very informative, easy, and useful way of learning. It will also be a fun game for children to find all words that parents have written for them.

Use Learning Programs for Kids

Modern children do not imagine their lives without technologies and smart devices. It is a good idea to use advanced software solutions that create an interactive and animated learning environment. Whether it is the basic lesson developed for preschoolers or a more complicated one intended for school-aged children, this activity will give the basics and lay the foundation for Italian language acquisition. It is an easy and fun way to keep your children engaged and practice all language components, from writing to speaking.

Encourage Creativity

Usually, children are very open and creative. You may unleash their full potential by playing games with them, for example, creating a picture book in Italian using visual prompts. This will not only help children practice their writing skills and enhance vocabulary but also strengthen the bond between both of you. Creating something exciting and learning together is a perfect thing to do together with your children, isn’t it?

Language Learning Partner

Just imagine all the benefits that your kid may enjoy having a peer in Italy. They can communicate in social networks or write traditional letters and practice writing skills. Yes, thoughts and sentences will be very simple on this level, but it is a constant practice that does the magic. Finding a penfriend in Italy might be a problem, so websites with people interested in this activity are good places to start. Constant conversations will eventually remove the language barrier and your child will feel more comfortable during an in-person conversation with native Italians.

Write Your Own Story

This activity might be more suitable for school-aged children who already obtained the beginner’s level. There are no limits or specific rules – let your children write whatever they want, be it a play, short story, news article, or diary in Italian. Only these small and simple steps will allow achieving the level needed to write a high-quality college-level research paper similar to works one can find on GetGoodGrade but written in Italian. Your kids will eventually reach this level if they keep practicing and you keep them motivated.

New Word for a New Day

This writing practice has something similar to the “labels on things” one, but it will allow enhancing more specific vocabulary rather than just a basic one. Present your child a new word each day, write it down on a piece of paper and leave it easily spotted, for example, on the kitchen table. Then you read the word and discuss its meaning with your kid. Go all over the list of new words at the end of every week and encourage your kid to write sentences with them. You may even come up with a short story in Italian if you were presenting suitable words throughout the week.

Conclusion

The key factor that leads to success in language learning is constant practice. Whether your child watches cartoons in Italian, writes a short story, or a message to an Italian friend, all activities help him or her master the language. Just keep your child motivated to do all those little steps and you will be impressed!