Children need to feel that they are making progress. They need continual encouragement as well as praise for good performance, as any success motivates. Parents are in an ideal position to motivate and so help their children learn, even if they have only basic English themselves and are learning alongside their young children. By sharing, parents can not only bring their child’s English language and activities into family life, but can also influence their young children’s attitudes to language learning and other cultures. It is now generally accepted that most lifelong attitudes are formed by the age of eight or nine.

To find out more, visit www.britishcouncil.org/parents

This is a part of booklet commissioned by the British Council to support parents.

Written by Opal Dunn, Author and Educational Consultant from the UK

© British Council 2008

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Stages in picking up English

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Reading

Speaking English to support your child