If you want your child to learn a new language, audiobooks can prove to be a great learning tool. They can be especially helpful for children who are unable to sit still with a book in hand but are willing to learn. For instance, if you want your little one to improve their French skills, you can ask them to listen to a French audiobook while they do their chores or engage in other activities. But listening to audiobooks and actually learning from them are two entirely different things. If not done properly, it can often prove to be difficult to remember things that they hear in the audiobook. So, if you want to make listening to an audiobook a fun, memorable, and educational experience for your child, here are some of the tips that you need to keep in mind:
Start with an easy audiobook
If your child hasn’t listened to audiobooks before, you should introduce them to it with something easy. For instance, you can find audio versions of children’s books in French. They are not only fun to read but also interesting and easy to keep track of. If they start with a complex or tough book, chances are they will listen for hours and still not learn or remember anything from it.
Also, start with something short
Give your child a little boost of accomplishment by getting them to listen to and finish a short audiobook. This will gear them up for longer books. With books that they can finish in a day or two, the experience can feel much more exciting. This, in turn, can help them develop a fondness for listening to audiobooks.
Pick the right titles
Some books are much better on audio than others, such as French books for kids. For instance, when your child is learning a new language, it can help them to listen to books with a narrative style. Story books are an ideal place to start. The more compelling the story, the easier it will be to listen to. That, however, does not mean that they should only listen to story books. But when starting out, they can be a perfect choice.
Take notes
When your child is listening to an audiobook, ask them to take notes. This is an easy way to summarize what they have heard. You can ask them to maintain a notebook where they can write comments or something they didn’t understand and need to read on further. This will also help them quote lines or phrases in their everyday conversations or even their schoolwork. Taking regular notes will make listening to audiobooks more beneficial. It will also allow them to keep track of what and how much they have learned.
People often underestimate the way an audiobook can be helpful when learning a new language. But once you encourage your child to get into them, you will realize that they make learning fun and engaging in a way a physical book never can.
