Learning Mandarin is a great investment for the future. Given its strong presence in connecting different people across the world, learning Mandarin as a second language is highly encouraged from a fairly young age. Parents often ask: What is the best age to learn Mandarin? Throughout this article, we will discuss when and how to begin your children’s Mandarin learning journey.

A question that is frequently asked by people is how young should children start to learn Mandarin. Although there is no one definitive answer for the question, research has found that the age of 17 and 18 can still be considered as a critical moment to learn a second language. However, it is also mentioned that real fluency can rarely be achieved unless children have started learning language at the age of 10. 

As fluency often takes a long period of time to master, parents usually encourage toddlers as young as 3 years old to start learning Mandarin. Despite their young age, learning Mandarin for toddlers around 3 years old is completely fine due to their natural ability to absorb sounds and tones, building a stronger foundation in the language. To achieve the most effective way to help toddlers learn, it’s important to keep the learning methods age-appropriate.

If you’re still considering teaching your toddlers, here’s why learning Mandarin as a second language is better to be done as early as possible. 

Encourage Fluency

As mentioned before, researchers have found that fluency can be reached perfectly if children start learning at least from age 10 or below. This fluency can be reached due to their ability to pick up language quicker than the average adult. Learning at such a young age matters so much to avoid decline in acquisition that hinder fluency.

Better Language Acquisition

Learning a second language, especially if the writing or speaking system is not completely similar with your native tongue can be overwhelming at times. Given how Mandarin has its own writing system and a slightly different way of pronouncing its words, learning from a younger age is highly encouraged. This learning process can help children retain memory quicker due to the nature of a kid’s brain to absorb information better than adults. 

Help Building Habit

Fluency is not something that you can build overnight. As a second language, Mandarin is probably not the most spoken language in a children’s environment. In such situations, it is advised to start as early as possible to build a habit of using Mandarin to communicate with others or consuming media in said language. This habit will not only help children to increase their fluency, but also help build confidence for a longer run. 

When it comes to picking up a second language, it is important to know which way can be implemented effectively to achieve fluency. This consideration is particularly important if you’re planning to teach toddlers or children to learn Mandarin as a second language. Finding the right learning strategy will not only promote fluency, but also help kids avoid boredom throughout the learning process. To help achieve a better learning strategy for your children, here are a few practical tips that you can consider. 

Know Your Children’s Learning Method

Learning methods usually differ greatly from one another. Children with preferences in auditory learning styles will understand better when voices and audios are involved. You can achieve this by using videos or engaging in active verbal communication with your children. On the other hand, visual learning style will learn better when they can see what they are learning. This learning method is usually assisted with visually vibrant learning tools. 

Start with Basic Skills

Toddlers are arguably still young and might not be able to master advanced skills. Therefore, parents who want to teach their toddlers should try starting with the most basic skill like listening. This method might not be able to cover a lot of materials but can be a great start to familiarize children with Mandarin pronunciation.

Utilize Tools to Make Learning Fun

Children can be exposed to boredom rather quickly due to their development, especially for toddlers who are not used to extra learning. If you’re planning to teach your children Mandarin as a second language, a great alternative that you can introduce to your children’s learning journey is by utilizing different tools that will not only provide diverse learning methods, but also keep children engaged in a fun and meaningful way. 

Active Learning 

Many researchers have found that active learning is the effective way to study something new. This method emphasizes the importance of letting learners get involved actively with their learning materials as opposed to passively reading or memorizing new information. Active learning will help younger children to find relevancy with real life situations and implement them further. 

Given how well developed technology is right now, finding the right tools to help children is not as difficult as in the past. Available resources can be found on the internet in a matter of seconds. This will give parents and learners the liberty to choose the best Mandarin learning tools that can increase their children’s understanding to study this second language. Here are a few tools recommendations to help your children learn Mandarin as a second language. 

Pinyin Chart

This chart may come in different sizes and colors, but the main objective remains the same. A pinyin chart is usually printed, whether big or small, to help children memorize Mandarin Pinyin effectively. By utilizing this chart, you will not only help children memorize initials and finals, but also guide them to correct their pronunciation along the way. 

Storybooks

This tool is perfect for young learners, especially toddlers, that still find difficulty in learning for a longer period of time. You can try buying Chinese storybooks with pictures to give another alternative learning method that can also serve as a fun entertainment tool. For younger children, you can also try to include a cognition audio book that assists children in learning basic Chinese vocabulary by providing English and Mandarin audio. 

Learn more about Elite Kid’s available storybooks by visiting today!

Worksheets

Another effective tool to help children recall information from their previous learning is activity worksheets. Utilizing this worksheet is usually easier as the resources are available to obtain on the internet. A good Mandarin worksheets targeted for children are usually filled with engaging activities and additional illustrations to ensure kids’ enjoyment in finishing the exercise. With its easy-to-follow instructions, these worksheets are perfect for young children who want to build a stronger Mandarin foundation. 

Check out Elite Kid’s activity worksheet to help your children boost their Mandarin foundation.

Flashcards 

Flashcards are a common tool that is widely used to promote active recall. This method will force children to recall new information they’ve obtained before and encourage them to retain this new memory better. Another benefit that you can gain from utilizing this tool is to avoid decline in memory retention. 

Dictionary Pen

Another effective tool to help your children learn, especially in terms of enhancing their Mandarin vocabulary understanding, is by utilizing a dictionary. However, carrying around a dictionary while trying to learn might not be the most effective solution for young children, especially toddlers. To help them study Mandarin better, you can try making use of a dictionary pen. This tool will not only allow children to immediately find an English translation of the new Mandarin vocabulary they have encountered, but help them learn about how to properly pronounce the word with its features. 

Learn more about the dictionary pen’s features to support your children’s learning journey!

Learning Mandarin as a kid is quite different from learning Mandarin as an adult as children aren’t used to learning independently. To help children achieve a better result in learning Mandarin as a second language, it is recommended to have a teacher or trainer that can help them in mastering the basics of Mandarin. Guided by an experienced teacher can provide both clarity and engaging learning methods to avoid children from burnout. Learn more about how your children can start learning Mandarin as a strong foundation by visiting this site.