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. 

Free Resources for Learning About the Languages of the World

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.

  1. Chinese – 1.3 billion native speakers in the world.
  2. Spanish – 460 million native speakers in the world.
  3. English – 379 million native speakers in the world. NOPE! We aren’t #1!
  4. Hindi – 341 million native speakers in the world.
  5. Arabic — 315 million native speakers in the world.
  6. Bengali — 228 million native speakers in the world.
  7. Portuguese — 220 million native speakers in the world.
  8. Russian — 153 million native speakers in the world.
  9. Japanese — 128 million native speakers in the world.
  10. 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

Resources to Make Foreign Language Learning Fun with image of people holding up paper signs on sticks that say \"Hello\" in various languages

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 Vocabulary Cut and Paste Activity text with image background of the Spanish flag

Spanish Songs for Beginners FREE Printable | The Homeschool Resource Room

7 Spanish Songs for Beginners Preschool & Kindergarten text with image examples of pages

Montessori-Inspired Spanish Activities and Resources

Montessori Inspired Spanish Activities and Resources text with image collage of craft examples

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

Free Spanish Color Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time text with illustrated image of a rainbow

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?

Why ASL in a Good Option for Foreign Language text with image of a boy signing

FREE Sign Language Printables and Resources

Sign Language Printables & Resources text with image of a girl looking at a board full of signs

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.

Free Resources for Learning About the Languages of the World