Pre-school Topics, Block 5, Week 41: All babies learn to speak the language they hear at home

Language

Week 41
All babies learn to speak the language they hear at home

Language is a non-instinctive system of spoken, manual (signed), or written symbols by which human beings’ express ideas, emotions, and desires. Language is a huge part of the preciousness of our humanity. Animal communication is the transfer of information by sounds, scents and motions from the sender to the receiver that affects current behavior. It can impact future behavior, too. It is generally instinctive.

Point to emphasize
We all learn to speak the language we hear around us.

Sample content and conversation with children

Today we are going to see how we all learn to speak the language we hear around us. So, listen closely and see if you know the language they are speaking. LISTEN CLOSELY!
[Play audio clip #1 of child speaking Spanish with parent.] What language was that? (Spanish) Raise up 2 hands if you speak Spanish at home. Did you go to school to learn Spanish? (NO)
[Play audio #2 of child speaking Chinese with parent.] What language is that? (Chinese)
[Show video #1 of child speaking French with parent.] Does anyone know what language they are speaking? Has anyone heard people speaking French before? Many children in different parts of the world grow up hearing it because it is the language spoken in their home.
Now, this one is even harder! [Show video #2 of child speaking Russian with parent.] WOW! What language is that? (Russian) That sounds like it would be hard to learn. Do you think this 4-year-old sat down and studied Russian to learn it? [NO, she grew up hearing her parents speak it, so she is able to speak it.]
[Show picture #1 or pictures of several babies together. Could be their baby pictures.] It is amazing that babies can grow up in their homes hearing English or Spanish or French or Chinese or Russian… And that is what they can speak even when they are 3 or 4. God made us all so we can easily learn the languages we hear around us. God made us with amazing brains so as babies we listen to all the words around us and by 3 and 4 we are easily speaking that language.
Now listen to this. [Show video #3 of Ragdoll Kitten Cinder Meowing.] What is the kitten doing? (meow, meow) If you raised this cat in the home where they speak Spanish, would it sound different than it does now? (NO, it would still say meow because that is all it can do.) What if we gave a kitten to the family speaking Russian, would it sound different? (No, cats don’t learn language they only meow.) Kittens and cats only meow. That is all they can do. Even the smartest cat is not able to speak a language. It just meows.
Isn’t it amazing and wonderful that as babies and little children we hear and learn the language that is around us. God made us in such a marvelous way. How we thank our God!

Songs
If you raise a cat in Japan
Remember, Remember, Remember God made you!

Suggested activities
What’s in the bag? Have a grocery bag with some different food stuffs in it. Describe an item (banana, apple, broccoli) and have the children guess what it is.

Audios
#1: Child speaking Spanish with parent