Q: I can't spend much money on my child's English education, but can I raise them to be bilingual?
I received this inquiry the other day.
Since they were happy with my advice, I'll share it with you!
Chika-mama: Hello, Mr. K. I have a question about English education. I don't speak English myself, and I can't afford to send my children abroad or to English conversation schools, but I really want to raise them to be bilingual.
Mr. K: Hello, Chika-mama. I have some good advice on how to raise your children to be bilingual. In particular, extensive reading in English is very effective.
Chika-mama: What exactly do you mean by extensive reading?
Mr. K: Extensive reading refers to reading a large number of books. In English learning specifically, it is effective to start with books that have a low difficulty level and gradually increase the level. This allows children to acquire the language in a natural way.
Chika-mama: I see. But what are the specific benefits?
Mr. K: There are several benefits to extensive reading. First, it enables natural language acquisition. Since you can learn words and phrases within a context, you can naturally pick up how to use vocabulary and grammar. Also, reading fun stories makes learning enjoyable and boosts motivation. Your vocabulary will naturally become richer, and your reading speed and comprehension will also improve.
Chika-mama: That sounds wonderful. But my son doesn't really like reading books. How can I get him interested?
Mr. K: I see. Even for children who don't really like reading books, there are ways to enjoy extensive reading. I recommend starting with English picture books!
Chika-mama: English picture books? What kind would be good?
Mr. K: English picture books are rich in illustrations and have simple stories, so they are easy to capture children's interest. For example, it's a good idea to choose picture books with themes children like, such as animals, adventures, or fantasy. Also, picture books featuring his favorite characters or those in a short episode format are good too.
Chika-mama: I see. If it's a picture book, my son might be interested. But how can I help him build a reading habit?
Mr. K: To build a reading habit, it's important to create time for reading little by little in your daily life. For example, try incorporating it into a reasonable routine, such as reading aloud before bedtime or during a short time in the morning. Also, enjoying reading time together as a parent and child is a great way to develop a reading habit.
Chika-mama: My daughter is only 3 years old, but can I introduce English picture books to her as well?
Mr. K: Yes, of course. For your 3-year-old daughter, it's best to start with simple picture books. For small children who cannot yet understand stories well, I recommend picture books that contain many onomatopoeias, such as animal sounds, as they are easier for them to enjoy. For example, it's also interesting to learn the differences between animal sounds in Japanese and English.
Chika-mama: What kind of differences are there specifically?
Mr. K: For example, a dog's bark is expressed as "wan-wan" in Japanese, and "Woof Woof" in English. Also, a cat's meow is "nyaa-nyaa" in Japanese, and "Meow Meow" in English. Since they can learn these differences while having fun, I think small children will be interested in them too.
Chika-mama: That's interesting! My son might enjoy it too. But even if you call it extensive reading, I can't buy that many English picture books, so can I keep it up?
Mr. K: It's certainly difficult to buy a lot of books. In that case, you should make use of Kindle Unlimited, Amazon's all-you-can-read service!
Chika-mama: Kindle Unlimited? What kind of service is that?
Mr. K: Kindle Unlimited is a service where you can read tens of thousands of books for a monthly fee of 980 yen. It includes many English picture books, so you don't need to buy a lot of books. It's very convenient because you can read them anytime, anywhere using your device.
Chika-mama: That sounds great! I'll try it right away. Thank you, Mr. K.
Mr. K: Please do give it a try. With Kindle Unlimited, you can easily enjoy many English picture books. I think this will help the children continue extensive reading without getting bored. I'm rooting for you!
Summary
Through this conversation, we discussed in detail the benefits of extensive reading using English picture books. Extensive reading is highly effective for acquiring a language in a natural way. English picture books, in particular, are rich in illustrations and have simple stories, making them a great way to capture children's interest and help them learn while having fun.
Furthermore, for parents who are worried about buying many books, using an unlimited reading service like Kindle Unlimited allows you to easily enjoy many English picture books. This helps reduce the financial burden while still providing children with a rich reading experience.
Please use this advice as a reference to create an environment where children can learn English while having fun. Let's experience the appeal of extensive reading and support children in naturally improving their English skills. I'm rooting for you!