The voice of peers is sacred! A little trick in children’s online language learning

Do you remember how much you loved to imitate your peers as a child? Their voice, their movements, even their words. This natural instinct to imitate plays a key role in language learning for preschool-aged children.

In this article, we’ll show how the voice of peers contributes to the foreign language development and education of young children.

Our theory is based on imitation, but what do we mean by imitation?

Imitation is observable in both the play and learning of preschool-aged children. Gender role imitation and identity formation begin as early as three years old, and by the age of five, children are adopting roles appropriate to their gender in their play. However, these role plays and activities become important not just in social interactions but also in learning. The behaviors observed and imitated by children include speech, movements, and the acquisition of various problem-solving strategies. Through this, children learn not just language but also many skills and behaviors that facilitate social connections and cognitive development.

The voice of peers is sacred

“The voice of peers is sacred” – these words mean more than we might initially think. This principle fundamentally shapes and influences the learning process of preschool-aged children, especially in language education. Research in child psychology and educational practice both confirm that children are particularly receptive to the behavior, voice, and activities of their peers. But what underlies this phenomenon?

The greater openness and acceptance towards peers in children can stem from multiple factors. On one hand, peers are at a similar stage of life, which makes it easier for them to identify with each other and find common interests. On the other hand, participation in peer groups provides an opportunity for children to try out and practice their social skills in equal relationships, which is especially important for the acquisition of social norms and behavioral patterns.

1. Identification and connection: Children instinctively identify with their own age group. When children hear other children speaking a language, they can better identify with the learning process and imagine themselves using the language.

2. Authenticity: Children instinctively perceive authenticity and can trust their peers’ opinions more. The voice of peers seems more authentic and reliable to children, which encourages them to learn the language themselves.

3. Motivation: The voice of peers has a motivating effect on children. When children hear other children speaking confidently in a new language, it encourages them to do likewise. The success of peers is inspiring and motivates them to improve themselves.

4. Courage in language use: Children are more daring to speak a new language if their peers do so. The example of peers motivates children and encourages them to be more confident in language use.

All this in practice

Children instinctively imitate their peers, so the voice of peers naturally supports language learning. When children hear other children speaking, they instinctively imitate their pronunciation, language style, and vocabulary.

In the PixiLearn Online Picture Dictionary, we introduced child narrator voices for most languages to learn based on these facts.

Additionally, child narrator voices help children master correct pronunciation. Children instinctively imitate their peers, so listening to child narrator voices helps them in natural language learning.

Try it: PixiLearn Online Picture Dictyonary! 🙂