Best way for a 2 yo kid to learn Mandarin/Russian?
I don't speak any of these languages but I think learning them could be helpful to my kids for the future. What are our options in Seattle area? I'd be glad if you share your opinions and experiences. Thank you!
Why do you think those languages in particular would be helpful?
Immersion, language is not just speaking but also culture. Pick one. Not both. There you go.
Why Russian? How is that gonna be useful?
I speak Russian, live in US. There is so much information and books available in Russian that don’t have any English translations. Culture itself is so different, there is a lot of very good ideas and mindsets that echo from Soviet Union.
^How often do you find yourself using Russian? I am considering teaching myself..
It's going to be nearly impossible to teach a 2yo kid a language artificially. Wait till he's older.
2 is the perfect age to start. But realize you will fail at teaching them unless you are fluent yourself. Find a preschool that caters to Russian or Chinese students. I applaud you for this. There is really another more valuable you can do for your child.
Russian or Chinese live in nanny.
I once knew people (Russian) who hired Iranian nanny for their son, and I think he spoke Farsi. Not sure how proficiently and if he was able to maintain it afterwards though...
In Soviet Russia, language learns you!
Some of my friends in SF send their kids to a bilingual Montessori/Pre-school that's Mandarin + English. It's funny to see little blonde kids and Indian kids speaking Chinese.
Rosetta Stone is garbage. Especially for difficult languages.