Free Resources for Learning About the Languages of the World
Published:
September 8, 2020
Contributor:
Jeannette Tuionetoa
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Learning a second language is extremely beneficial in the world we live in today. Grab these free resources for learning about the languages of the world with your homeschool.
Did you know that there are 7,117 languages spoken around the world today? There are even more things that we are learning about languages around the world, every day.
Many believe that even languages themselves are rapidly evolving. On the flip side of that, about 40% of languages are now endangered, many times with only 1,000 speakers of the language remaining.
When you put into perspective the idea of the different languages around the world and that not all of our students will just stay in America all their lives, keep this in mind. 75% of the world’s population doesn’t speak a word of English.
In fact, it would really benefit kids to teach them one of the most spoken languages in the world.
NOTE: This information is from Babbel.com.
- Chinese – 1.3 billion native speakers in the world.
- Spanish – 460 million native speakers in the world.
- English – 379 million native speakers in the world. NOPE! We aren’t #1!
- Hindi – 341 million native speakers in the world.
- Arabic — 315 million native speakers in the world.
- Bengali — 228 million native speakers in the world.
- Portuguese — 220 million native speakers in the world.
- Russian — 153 million native speakers in the world.
- Japanese — 128 million native speakers in the world.
- Lahnda (Western Punjabi) — 118 million native speakers in the world.
However, these many languages aren’t the only reason to teach your kids the basics (at least) about languages around the world.
There are some advantages to teaching your kids about different languages that we should all consider.
1. The younger the better.
I saw this with my own eyes twice. My daughter was raised in her early learning years in Spain. It was astonishing just how much my daughter took to the Spanish language. She was so immersed in the language by age of 5 that she no longer spoke English until we came back to America.
I moved to Tonga about five years ago. Consequently, my son was 5 and my daughter was 9. My son is completely bilingual right now (tri-lingual even with some Spanish). I feel the idea that the younger a child knows a language the more apt he is to learn it, is completely true.
2. Benefits cognitive thinking.
Much research shows that learning a second language helps students have a better grasp on their own language. Students who know a second language tend to score higher in reading and math compared to students who don’t.
Of course, learning languages like Greek and Latin can help students understand and broaden vocabulary better. Kids are also more creative and have critical thinking skills, reason, and memory.
3. Boost future salary.
I know we want to keep our kids with us forever (some of us maybe not so much), but they will leave the nest sometime. There are plenty of resources that say learning a second language can help our children get 2 – 8% more money when entering the workforce.
4. Broader worldview.
Living in one country all of our lives can create a fishbowl mentality. We can study all types of countries. However, learning their language gives a foot into their ways and lifestyle. It lets kids see a wider worldview.
They start thinking about exploring other countries while having compassion and understanding other cultures. A child’s empathy towards other cultures increases which can last straight through adulthood as they travel and work with others from different places.
Grab these free resources for learning about the languages of the world:
Resources to Make Foreign Language Learning Fun
Learn Numbers 0-10 in Seven Languages (FREE Printables) |The Natural Homeschooler
The Guide Every World Language Teacher Needs | Distance Learning Schedule Editable
FREE Foreign Language Resources | A Net in Time
10 FREE Sites for Digital Distance Learning for World Language | La Secundaria
5 Online Resources for World Language Virtual Learning | Llearning Llama
Foreign Language Speaking Activity, In-Class or Distance Learning | World Language Classroom
The 10 Most Spoken Languages In The World | Babbel.com
Ethnologue – Languages of the World
Languages of the world – Interesting facts about languages | BBC
Free resources for learning about Spanish:
FREE Spanish Vocabulary Cut and Paste Activity
Spanish Songs for Beginners FREE Printable | The Homeschool Resource Room
Montessori-Inspired Spanish Activities and Resources
FREE Spanish Starter Kit eBook | Spanish Mama
FREE Spanish Color Printables (60 pages of Color Fun) | Spanglish Schoolhouse
Play Dough Tree for FREE Counting 1-10 Spanish | Life Over Cs
Scavenger Hunt Lists in Spanish, English & French – FREE Printables | Bilingual Kid Spot
Virtual Field Trips In Elementary Spanish Class | Fun for Spanish Teachers
40 FREE Spanish-English Flashcards Of Jungle Animals And 5 Fun Games For Kids | Happy & Blessed Home
FREE Spanish Color Songs and Rhymes For Circle Time | Living Montessori Now
Printable Spanish Flashcards: English to Spanish Feelings FREE Flashcards | Look! We’re Learning
Spanish Foreign Language FREE Worksheets and Printables | Education.com
FREE Printable Spanish Vocabulary Flashcards | Raising a Self-Reliant Child
Learning Colors in Spanish FREE Printable | Kindergarten Worksheets and Games
Practice Colors In Spanish FREE Printables | Ladydeelg
Learn Spanish for Kids with Spanish Mama | Bilingual Kid Spot
FREE Learn Spanish Numbers Worksheet | FREE Printable Online
5 FREE Resources to Help You Learn Spanish | Life with these Kids
Spanish FREE Worksheets for Kids | Mommy is My Teacher
Learn Spanish for FREE! 45+ FREE Resources | Spanish Academy
Free resources for learning about American Sign Language (ASL):
Why ASL is a Good Option for Foreign Language?
FREE Sign Language Printables and Resources
FREE ASL Video Lessons | How to Homeschool for FREE
First 100 Signs You Need to Know (FREE Checklist & Quiz) | ASL Rochelle
Ideas For Using “Up” In Sign Language During Daily Routines (FREE Download) | Speech and Language at Home
FREE Printable American Sign Language Alphabet Flashcards | Kori at Home
ASL Preschool FREE Sample Printables | Preschool Mom
FREE Printable ASL Sign Language Number Cards & Poster | And Next Comes L
Preschool ASL FREE Printable for ABCs | Two Pink Peonies
FREE Printable Flashcards: Sign Language Alphabet Flashcards | Look We’re Learning!
Free resources for learning about French:
FREE French -er verbs activity / les verbes en -er | Mme R’s French Resources
French Shapes FREE Matching Activity | Word United
FREE Learn the French Language Worksheet | Kindergarten Worksheets
Printable FREE French Flashcards | Fruitful Vine Woman
French For Kids – FREE Learn Colors in French | Bilingual Kid Spot
FREE French Resources | Mme R’s French Resources
French FREE Resource Library | Maternelle Avec Mme Andrea
7 Ways to Learn French For Kids | Word United
Counting in French, Learning French Numbers | Bilingual Kid Spot
French Verbs Mini-book and How-to | For French Immersion
FREE French Verb Worksheets | Tree Valley Academy
Resources for learning about German:
FREE German Worksheets for Beginners | Homeschool Den
Flashcards to Learn German Language for FREE | Kids-Flashcards
German Alphabet FREE Flash Cards | Mr. Printables
FREE German Number Flash Cards | Flashcard Fox
Top 100 German Verbs for Beginners PDF (with sentence examples and past participle) | German Word of the Day
German Language Learning Journal Prompts (FREE Guide) | Speak at Home Tonight
Free resources for learning about Chinese:
Bilingual Tic-Tac-Toe: 4 Ways to Learn Chinese with This Game (FREE Printable) | Chalk Academy
Chinese (Subscriber FREEBIE) Worksheets: Character Strokes | Morning Mobi
DIY-Montessori Chinese Sandpaper | Raise in Chinese
Teach Kids Mandarin with these FREE Lessons | Bilingual Kids Spot
Chinese Character and Calligraphy FREE Worksheets for Kids | Education.com
How to Use Chinese Numbers 1-10 FREE Printable Flashcards | Adore Neko Designs
FREE Kitchen Tool Labels for Chinese Immersion at Home | Lingo Buddies
Chinese Daily Practice FREE – Number One | Monovating
Teach Kids Mandarin Chinese at Home: Starter Kit Including FREE Printables | Bilingual Kid Spot
FREE Chinese Number Practice Pages | XiaoPanda Preschool
Chinese Writing FREE Worksheets | Write Mandarin
Free resources for learning about Japanese:
Japanese Numbers Flashcard FREE Printable Download | Gus on the Go
Awesome YOUTUBERS Will Teach You Japanese | Team Japanese
Hiragana FREE Practice Sheets | Hiragana Mama
Kanji Practice Worksheet FREE Download | Coto Japanese Academy
FREE Japanese Language Worksheet | Kindergarten Worksheets
20 Basic Japanese Phrases for Beginners (Part. 1) FREE Printable PDF + Audio Files | A Piece of Sushi
Japanese Hiragana and Katakana Chart / Cheat Sheet (Side by Side) FREE Download | Lingographics
Blank Japanese FREE Practice Sheets | Wired in Japan
Free resources for learning about Italian:
BELLO, BEL, BEGLI, BEI – Learn how to speak Italian correctly;) Video | Vaporetto Italiano – Learn Italian with Francesco
The 8 Best Learn Italian YouTube Channels (Video) | MosaLingua
Simple Italian Lessons for Kids FREE Italian Worksheets for Kids | The Chirping Moms
Animals In Italian: Fun Language Learning For Kids With FREE Printable Flashcards | Mama Made in Italy
Teach Kids Italian! Language Resources for Little Learners | Bilingual Kid Spot
Italian FREE Flashcard Book | Flascard eBooks
6 Easy Italian Learning Games for kids with FREE Printable Flashcards | Mama Made in Italy
Free resources for learning about Hebrew:
The ABCs of Proper Hebrew Pronunciation: Vowels | Mahan Shilo
Learn Hebrew: 15 Phrases to Say I Agree in Hebrew | Lingua Junkie
Original Numbers in Hebrew – Ordinal Numbers in Hebrew from 1-12 | AhayahYashiya – Israelites Unite!
Jewish FREE Printables | Jewish Homeschool
Biblical Hebrew Words for Beginners | Hebrew Roots Mom
100 Basic Hebrew Words and Vocabulary VIDEO for Beginners! #1 | Learn Hebrew Aleph to Tav
The Hebrew Alphabet FREE for Beginners | Bible Pathway Adventures
FREE Hebrew Flashcards | With the Huddlestons
How to Learn Hebrew in 5 Minutes a Day (STUDY TOOLS inside) | Lingua Junkie
FREE Hebrew Resources | Land of Honey
Every effort in helping kids learn another language is a step towards encouraging their cognitive development, increase their travel and employment opportunities, creativity, and seeing the whole world differently.