Introduction:
Kannada is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by the people of Karnataka in the southwestern region of India. The language is also spoken by linguistic minorities in the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Kerala and Goa; and also by Kannadigas abroad. The language had roughly 43 million native speakers by 2011. Kannada is also spoken as a second and third language by over 12.9 million non-native speakers in Karnataka, which adds up to 56.9 million speakers. It is one of the scheduled languages of India and the official and administrative language of the state of Karnataka. Kannada was the court language of some of the most powerful empires of South and Central India, such as the Chalukya dynasty, the Rashtrakuta dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire and the Hoysala Empire.
The Kannada language is written using the Kannada script, which evolved from the 5th-century Kadamba script. Kannada is attested epigraphically for about one and a half millennia and literary Old Kannada flourished in the 6th-century Ganga dynasty and during the 9th-century Rashtrakuta Dynasty. Kannada has an unbroken literary history of over a thousand years. Kannada literature has been presented with 8 Jnanapith awards, the most for any Dravidian language and the second highest for any Indian language.
What Is the Best Way to Teach Kannada to Children?
There are many ways to teach your children Kannada, but only a few of them involve traditional classroom learning. While classes are an important part of the learning process, actively using the second language in your daily life is a fantastic approach to improve comprehension and speech flexibility.
Speak Kannada at Home
Speaking Kannada at home with your child, whether he or she is a baby, a toddler, a tween, or a teen, is a wonderful approach to help them connect foreign language terminology to everyday life.
It’s a very low-pressure technique for anxious or sensitive children who are afraid of making a mistake and being embarrassed to speak another language.
Learn Together
You and your child can learn Kannada together if you can find parent and child classes. Some people are astonished to learn that their child can end up benefiting them as much as they help their child when they attend this type of program.
Furthermore, this style of class frequently concentrates on terminology that is related to children’s hobbies and activities.
Read Kannada Books Before Bedtime
It’s a good idea to review what your child learned during the day before bedtime, but it’s also vital to give them a break if they’ve worked hard all day. You may read a short storey in Kannada to your child or listen to an audiobook together if he or she is interested.
If Kannada isn’t one of your first languages, having your child read a book to you and serve as the teacher might be entertaining. They’ll be so pleased with themselves!
Try through Online language apps
Explore the apps for teaching Kannada to children that are accessible for your smart device. Some, such as Language Curry and Multibhashi, provide both a free and a premium edition with limited content.
We discovered that trying out a variety of free options helped us figure out what kind of program our kids liked the best. You won’t waste money on an app that isn’t best suited to your child’s learning style this way.
Find Extra-Curricular activities
It is not unusual to discover extracurricular events hosted in Kannada in bigger metropolitan and suburban regions these days. However, we do have one word of caution. If your child is easily overwhelmed, don’t put them in a programme with a steep learning curve unless they are already fluent in Kannada. Trying to learn a new skill and a new language at the same time might be difficult.
Praise your child for their progress
Milestone achievements, such as successfully learning the names of colors or animals, or being able to hold simple conversations, should be rewarded through positive affirmation or small rewards, like candy, toys, or a favorite video. Regular praise will reinforce your child’s desire to learn.
Expose your child to books and videos in the new language
Allow your child to choose bilingual stories, television programs, and movies that appeal to them, and if possible, look for translations of your child’s favorite books and movies. Use reading and watching time to continue exposing your child to the new language. Watching cartoons in a second language can help your child learn that language.
So, you can follow the above-given ways or try to create unique ways to teach your kid Kannada while having fun. Always remember, they should not feel the burden of it or else they’ll try to get away from learning.
Stay calm and just go with their learning flow!
Good Luck!!!