Guides
Helping your child learn a language, one day at a time
Plain answers to the questions parents ask us most. What works at home, what to do if you don’t speak the language, and the phrases to learn before a trip. The short version: start with their own life.
Teaching at home
What works with kids, at every age, even if you don't speak the language.
- What's a great way to teach my child French?How to teach your child French at home: short daily habits, their own life as the material, read-aloud, songs and speaking back, with a plan by age and week.
- How can I help my child learn a language I don't speak?Help your child learn a language you don't speak: learn alongside them, lean on native-speaker audio, involve relatives and make everyday routines the practice.
- What's the best age for a child to learn a second language?Is there a best age for a child to learn a second language? Earlier helps with accent, but it is never too late. What changes with age and what matters more.
- What should I look for in a language app for my child?What to look for in a language app for kids: a checklist for real speaking, native audio, no ads or open chat, data and parental approvals, plus screen time.
- How can our whole family learn a language together?How to learn a new language as a whole family: start with family words, label the house, use dinner phrases, hold a weekly language hour and let the kids teach.
Bilingual families
Keeping two languages, and the family who speaks them, close.
- How do I raise a bilingual child?How to raise a bilingual child: one parent one language, minority language at home, time and place, English-only answers, and why mixing languages is normal.
- How do I keep a family language alive when my child is losing it?How to keep a heritage language alive when your child is losing it: daily routines, grandparents on video calls, family stories and real reasons to use it.
Reading
Helping a child read in the language they are learning.
- How can I help my child read in a second language?How to help your child read in a second language: read aloud together, follow each word, hear a native voice, reread, record their own reading and pick books.
- How can I support my child's French immersion at home if I don't speak French?How parents who don't speak French can support a child in French immersion: reading homework, school readers, strong English, the teacher and the summer break.
Travel
The phrases to learn before a trip, and how to learn them fast.
- Going to France? The French phrases to learn first (and how to learn them fast)The French phrases that do most of the work on a trip to France, with tables by situation, easy pronunciation, a 2-week plan and ways to get kids involved.
- How can my kids learn some of the language before a trip abroad?A simple 4-week plan to help kids learn some of the language before a trip abroad: a phrase a day, role-play at home and short books about the trip itself.
- Going to Spain or Latin America? The Spanish phrases to learn for a family tripThe Spanish phrases a family needs on a trip, with tables by situation, easy pronunciation, a 2-week plan and the differences between Spain and Latin America.
