Why is bilingualism the best gift you can give your child in Spain?

Bilingualism is a skill that broadens horizons. We know how much of an impact learning foreign languages has on cognitive functions. A child’s brain is most plastic until early school age. This means that the ability to form new neural connections is significantly higher during this time than in adults. This plasticity facilitates language learning and also allows children to better master pronunciation, accent, and grammar.

To provide a suitable environment for language learning, it’s a good idea to engage children in language activities as often as possible—through conversation, writing, and reading. Every parent raising a child abroad wants to pass on to them the greatest gift of all: their native language. They want their child to be able to communicate freely with their grandparents, so as to maintain those priceless bonds.

Unfortunately, in children who do not use language and have no exposure to it, this ability fades away.

Children forget words and then replace them with words from the second language, which in turn leads to a loss of their ability to communicate in that language. This is a completely natural process resulting from the inability to reinforce learned words and acquire new phrases, spelling rules, or sentence structure.

To support language development, it’s a good idea to communicate in that language every day and make a habit of reading bedtime stories. Games like “something nearby that starts with the letter…” also work well, as do solving crossword puzzles for kids and writing down the answers together. The most effective method, however, is interacting with peers. Direct conversation with another child who speaks Polish is the best way to overcome children’s inhibitions and unleash their creativity. Group activities led under the expert guidance of a teacher are key to effective learning.

It was with Polish children living in Spain in mind that I created my own educational course in Polish, based on the Polish Ministry of Education’s core curriculum. The course is divided into age groups:

• Group 1: children ages 3 to 5
• Group 2: children aged 6 to 10

There are no strict age limits—it all depends on the child’s readiness. In the older groups, we use textbooks, refine writing and reading skills, reinforce spelling and grammar rules, and discuss assigned readings. In younger groups, we teach proper pencil grip, do graphomotor exercises, learn the alphabet, write our first letters, and develop reading skills.

I am an educator and speech-language pathologist with experience working with children in preschool and early elementary school groups at a Montessori school with preschool classes.

I also have experience working as a speech-language pathologist in a private practice. When working with children, I follow the principle of “learning through relationships.”

The course runs from September through June and consists of weekly sessions. I cordially invite you to sign up for trial lessons now! Every Saturday through June 20, upon prior registration, you can take advantage of our open house days and attend free classes.

Meeting place: Ay Caramba Language School, Av. Miguel de Unamuno 1, 03183 Torrevieja, Alicante.

Registration: Phone: +34 661 178 389 (WhatsApp) and on my Facebook profile: Magdalena Elena Banasik.

Best regards, Magdalena Banasik, M.A. – educator, speech-language pathologist

Good luck with the course! Torrevieja sounds like a great location—I'm sure there are plenty of parents in that area who would be eager to sign their kids up for classes like these.