In addition to my work as director, I advise and guide childcare and primary schools in setting up and implementing a quality English programme. I provide in-service training and develop materials, including the preschool programme Benny's Playground. I regularly collaborate with universities and colleges for research on our methodology and with publishers.
The most enjoyable part is seeing enthusiastic toddlers and students, who enjoy learning a new language naturally.
It goes without saying that I am a huge advocate of speaking multiple languages. Mastering multiple languages is a gift that has many socio-cultural and economic benefits. It makes it easier to communicate with people of different cultures and thus get to know them better. Which in turn contributes to greater empathy and understanding.
Almost every child goes through a silent period when they do not talk in the 'other' language, but they do listen and learn.
Every parent with a language other than the school language should also teach his/her child this language, as it is part of his/her culture. In addition, multilingualism has many cognitive advantages.
Provide a language-rich environment where there is a lot of speaking and reading aloud in your first language.
Myrna Feuerstake, director EarlyBird, expertise centre for early foreign language education English and world citizenship.
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