Can a toddler learn English from watching DVDs?

Question

I am raising my 15 month old girl alone and try to teach her English in a chinese speaking environment. I let her watch Cartoons DVDs in English, but can that really help her pick up some English words?

Answer 1

It can help in picking up words, but to learn a language some sort of interaction needs to be involved.

Answer 2

Exposing her to English DVDs is one step in helping her learn a new language. However, most research on long-term tv and video watching for young children suggests that a)it's not the best tool to help them learn and b)it may even be detrimental to their attention spans, health, etc.

The best way to really make sure she's learning something is to talk to her. Do you speak with her in English? Make your home her English school. You can play English children's music, teach her English songs, read her English books, and just talk to her everyday in English. This will make the language more real to her than watching a DVD.

Are there English language preschools she could attend later on? I imagine she's too young now but in the future? Don't stop with the DVDs and don't use them too often but keep working with her. Children learn best when their parents are involved, it's fun, and it's made real to their world.

Good luck!

Answer 3

I think so.I'm English and trying to teach my 2 little girls french.i have got them a children's french course its cartoons and basic speech.its from a company called muzzy and they have picked up a lot of words.

I'm not sure if Muzzy do an English course but if you wanted you could check it out.

Good luck with it,I know how hard it can be teaching kids  a different language.

Answer 4

I think it depends on the program. When i was young, my parents put me in front of Sesame Street. At the age of 1 1/2 I could count to 20 in English and 15 in French.

Answer 5

My kids have learnt a bit of Spanish from Dora the Explorer. So I don't see why not. You could try and get dvds directed at really young kids, that help them learn to speak. You should be able to order some online.

Answer 6

I believe it can help ... but once in school(at 2 abd a half years old) she will learn even faster....

Answer 7

I doubt it very much

Answer 8

it can help her pick up the words but you have to listen to what she is saying as usually children will pronounce the word wrong and continue to do so until corrected

Answer 9

yes

Answer 10

It is possible. Do not let him to associate Chinese ascent people

Answer 11

it can help but like anything else when youre teaching a child something, you need to speak english with her... she'll pick it up much faster that way than just watching it on the tv

Answer 12

My friend's daughter (3) has learnt some Spanish from Dora. As a child I went to France over the summer and learnt loads of French from watching cartoons. Immersing a child in a language, whether from TV or any other source, will definitely help them speak that language.

Answer 13

absolutely - I can't believe the Spanish words my English speaking children know from watching Dora and Diego!

Answer 14

yes.  children learn how to speak from what they hear.  she'll learn to speak english the same way she'll learn to speak chinese...by hearing it.  the more she's around it and the more she hears it the more she will pick up.  it's good getting her started at a young age.  they take in so much more when they are young!