Spanish
“If intelligence is the triumph of life, the spoken word is the marvelous means by which this intelligence is manifested.” Maria Montessori
As Montessori educators, we recognize the importance of language in early childhood development. We also observe how easily young children acquire language and build vocabulary. This inclination for language occurs because children are experiencing the sensitive period for language development from birth until around age six. From infancy, the need to communicate with others drives a child’s language progression from sounds to words to conversation. During the sensitive period for language, children are most interested in learning the names for everything around them. And as they expand their vocabulary, children are feeding their inclination to learn and develop. Through daily conversation, the children are able to learn the target language similarly to the way they learned their native language. They acquire language from their environment. They also learn that there is more than one way of expressing an idea or saying something, and they develop an understanding of the relationships between words and meaning in Spanish. Overall, children who learn a second language develop mental flexibility as well as an increased awareness of the importance of communication with others.