The program is designed to teach a variety of languages used by some parents through fun home activities while providing new perspectives on learning multiple languages. (image: Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — As speaking multiple languages is gaining importance in a rapidly globalizing world, institutions set up across South Korea to support multicultural families are offering special programs to provide children with early opportunities to learn multiple languages.
Seoul’s Dongdaemun District Family Center is offering ‘one home two languages’ program for multicultural families with children under 7 years of age from February 27 to April 24.
The program is designed to teach a variety of languages used by some parents through fun home activities while providing new perspectives on learning multiple languages.
The Mokpo Center for Multicultural Families in Mokpo, South Jeolla Province will also offer a ‘double languages, double happiness’ program for multicultural families with toddlers and recently immigrated children to learn about the importance of speaking multiple languages.
The program teaches participants about the importance of multiple languages, the role of parents in the process, and family consultations.
Busan’s Haeundae District Center for Multicultural Families will offer ‘parental coaching for multiple languages’ for multicultural families from March 19 to September 19.
Choi Yeong-seo, a multi-language specialist, will give lectures on the importance of speaking multiple languages and the role of parents in the process.
The Sacheon Center for Healthy Multicultural Families in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province will offer a ‘bigger dream, wider world with languages’ program for multicultural families with children under 5 years of age from March, as well as the Yeongam-gun Center for Healthy Multicultural Families in Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province, which will offer multi-language programs for multicultural families with toddlers from March.
“Learning multiple languages at an early age in a family environment is the most effective way,” said Yasuko Kida, president of the Association of Multicultural Language Instructors in Seoul.
“Korean fathers can speak to their child in Korean, while the mother can use her mother tongue to play, talk, or read with the child.”
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
