25 Hints

Follow these suggestions if they work for you, and don’t follow them if they don’t work

Think about these suggestions and adapt them to your situation

To teach a child to speak your language, play games with them. Board games are best.

Speak with one child at a time

Only speak in your own language

Speak at your normal speed and use the normal words you use

Speak only one language, the language you are teaching

The child wants to learn

The child will teach you more than you teach them

Smile

Be yourself

Use your first name

Use their first name

Speak to the child

Listen to the child

If they are not speaking, then they are listening and thinking, let them listen and think

If they start speaking, then stop speaking and start listening

If they stop speaking, then wait a few seconds and start speaking

Ignore language errors, they do not exist

Children do not make language errors, they are making new language

Use the same words, again, and again, and again, and again, and again

Sit down at a table, about half the height of the child, if possible

Play a board game using numbers and colours, and maybe animals

This may take some time, don’t be in a hurry

The rest is easy, anybody can do this