“Should we bring a native speaker into our home, or is an English course enough?” We hear this question from parents almost every week. Other doubts usually follow: Isn’t my child too young? Will a second language confuse their German? And is it worth it if we hardly speak English ourselves?
In this article we take an honest look at both options, with their strengths and their limits. At the end you will find five questions to help you decide what suits your family.
The short answer
Both options can work. Which one fits better depends less on the method than on two things: how much time your child actually spends with English, and whether someone talks directly to them during that time. Your child’s age, personality and your family routine matter too.
What really matters when children learn a language
Children don’t learn a language from vocabulary lists, but by interacting with people who matter to them. Regular contact and enough time with the language are what makes the difference (De Houwer, 2007). English that only plays in the background, from the radio or TV, has far less effect than a person who plays with the child, asks questions and answers.
So when you compare two options, it helps to look at these points:
- Speaking time: how many minutes a week does your child speak English or get spoken to directly?
- Regularity: does the contact happen reliably every week, over many months?
- Relationship: does your child feel at ease with the person? Children open up to a language more easily when they like the person speaking it.
- Fun: playing, singing, discovering. Children stay with it when English is enjoyable and doesn’t feel like school.
A native speaker at home: strengths and limits
With one-to-one care, an English-speaking coach visits your home regularly and spends time with your child, in English only.
- Your child gets the coach’s full attention and does most of the talking.
- English becomes part of real life: playing, cooking, going to the playground, an outing to the park.
- Suitable even for the youngest, because your child stays in familiar surroundings.
- Pace and topics follow your child, not a group plan.
The limits: one-to-one care costs more per hour than a place in a group. Your child doesn’t meet other children who are learning English too. And you need a fixed afternoon each week when the coach can come.
A group course: strengths and limits
In a group course your child learns together with other children in a fixed weekly lesson, usually following a proven programme of songs, movement and games.
- Contact with other children: many children love singing and playing together.
- A clear structure with recurring rituals, which gives small children a sense of security.
- A more affordable way to start than one-to-one care.
The limits: several children share the teacher’s attention, so each child speaks less. Children often talk to each other in German. And the time and place are fixed, which doesn’t always fit family life.
Common doubts – and what we think
“Isn’t my child too young?”
In our experience there is no such thing as too early. Babies listen and get used to the sounds of a language long before they speak themselves. A review by the German Youth Institute (DJI) concludes that young children can fully acquire two languages in an age-appropriate way (Reich, 2010). At the same time, an early start is not a deadline: older children learn very well too, they mainly need enough contact with the language.
“Won’t English mix up their German?”
The worry is understandable, but children keep their languages apart well. From very early on they choose which language to use depending on who they are talking to (Reich, 2010). Mixing words from both languages for a while is normal and not a sign of confusion. If you have questions about your child’s speech development in general, your paediatrician is the right person to ask.
“Is once a week enough?”
To be honest: once a week won’t make a child bilingual. But it is a good, reliable start. Your child gets used to the sound, understands more and more and loses the shyness to say something. The more contact you add, the faster it goes: a second afternoon, English songs and picture books at home, or a holiday camp.
“We hardly speak English ourselves – is that a problem?”
No. You don’t need to speak English with your child, and you shouldn’t give up your own family language for it. What helps: show interest, ask what your child did today, and let them sing you an English song. The person looking after your child takes care of the English.
“My child goes to a bilingual kindergarten. Isn’t that enough?”
A bilingual kindergarten is a good support. Usually, though, one English-speaking person looks after many children there, and the children often answer in German. Whether extra contact makes sense depends on how much English your child actually speaks there. The two combine well.
“What if my child doesn’t want to join in at first?”
That is normal, especially in the first weeks. Many children listen for a while before they say anything themselves. Patience, a fixed routine and a person your child can trust all help. A trial lesson often shows whether the chemistry is right.
Five questions to help you decide
- How old is your child? For babies and toddlers, the familiar setting at home is often the easier way in.
- What is your goal? If English is to become a real second language, plenty of direct speaking time matters most.
- What is your child like? Some children blossom in a group, others open up more easily one-to-one.
- What fits into your routine? A coach comes to you, a course takes place at a fixed time and place.
- What budget is realistic – over many months? Regularity achieves more than a short, intensive attempt.
Often the best way is to combine both
Many families don’t have to choose one side at all. Weekly one-to-one care brings the speaking time, a group course or a holiday camp brings time with other children. And English songs, audiobooks and picture books at home keep the language alive in between.
How we work at native4kids
We offer both. With our one-to-one care, a native coach visits your home once a week, for children from age 1 in Vienna, Graz, Linz, Salzburg and Innsbruck. The coach speaks only English with your child and never looks after a group. In Vienna we also run group courses in small groups at our premises in the 3rd district, as well as holiday camps.
Still unsure what suits your child? Tell us about your family through our enquiry form. We are happy to advise you personally and without obligation.