Kids are the most sophisticated viewers on Earth: they know when cartoon characters lie and exaggerate the situation. This audience is demanding as well: you can not make them learn anything without engaging them. It is why cartoons can be a perfect tool to learn a language with your kid. How can you do that?
The plot of educational cartoons is usually straightforward. Each phrase is repeated several times. The child does not need to strain to understand what is happening on the screen. It is even better to combine learning with online English classes for kids. They enjoy the colorful video and follow the storyline. Willy – nilly, some colloquial phrases of characters cling to them, which he happily tries in real life.
How to Use Cartoons to Learn a Language With Your Kids
Cartoons can help children to understand foreign speech better, replenish vocabulary and even improve pronunciation. The most important rule is not to force the child. You should wait and show it another day if the kid is entirely against an alien cartoon. Ideal if mom has time to sit next to her and comment on unclear points. Be sure to ask the child what he learned, what he liked, whether the hero did the right thing if there is no time.
Grammar
Many cartoons are filmed not for an adult audience but exclusively for children. Their goal is to acquaint the child with the world around him, so you will not find difficult words and grammar or slang expressions in them. The characters’ phrases are simple, and they use basic vocabulary. Please note: this is typical for cartoons aimed at a younger audience. A full-length “Shrek,” “Madagascar,” requires at least an average level of knowledge.
Phrases
Heroes of animated series, as a rule, have not only characteristic features but also no less characteristic phrases that they will repeat from series to series. Repetition is the mother of learning, so expressions and words will quickly be deposited in the memory. Pay attention to cartoons if you are not fans of soap operas or have enough free time to watch a two-hour blockbuster. Most of them are stories from ten to thirty minutes, and there are even two-minute animations.
Words
Cartoons are not only entertaining but also educational, and they are available even to beginners from scratch. You have to choose precisely the comic to make sure your kid catches the phrases and understands the words. The level of your child has to overlap the lexis.
Platforms to Watch Cartoons in a Foreign Language
Learn English Kids – British Council
Funny cartoons from the British Council will be interesting for adults, although they are in the “children’s” section. Exciting stories can be heard or watched with subtitles. A document with tasks and answers to them is attached to each cartoon. You can check how well you get the words of the heroes.
Cartoons On
This website provides cartoons in English for free. There are no newest cartoons here, but the choice is still extensive. A modern funny “Kung Fu Panda” and a classic cartoon “101 Dalmatians” will evoke nostalgia and memories from childhood. There are no subtitles for the videos, but the characters speak pretty clearly in many animation masterpieces, and the picture will help you understand the essence of their dialogues.
Magic English Channel
A channel to help you learn English from your favorite Disney cartoons. The videos are sets of excerpts from the familiar “Lady and the Tramp.” There are phrases recommended for remembering in each video. You and your kid can remember them easily, thanks to the cute plot.
Conclusion
Many people argue that the earlier language learning begins, the better for the child. Active parents start to stage foreign cartoons for kids at the age of four. Others wait until school and start showing cartoons to children in parallel with school English. Can a child learn a language only with a cartoon? Unfortunately, this will create for the child the first positive experience in learning a foreign language.
Be sure to try this fun way of learning a foreign language with your child. They will undoubtedly have pleasant memories of these first attempts even if the kids do not connect their future with the language.
