They’re using their knowledge to help others!
Young polyglot siblings: 4-year old Emilio, 6-year-old Amora, 8-year-old Rosie, 10-year-old LaLa, 12-year-old Anita, 16-year-old Malachi, 18-year-old Kimoni, 20-year-old Mina, and baby Makalo have created a language learning YouTube channel. The channel, Multilingual Stars Academy, offers fun and exciting content made to help people of all ages learn the basics of multiple languages.
“Learning different languages is not offered in our community so we have to be the ones who bring that type of education to our people,” Mina said at a recent business expo at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 20 percent of Americans can speak two or more languages. The percentage in the Black community in some states is only around 7.4%; the rest only speak English according to a 2006 article published in The Denver Post.
The polyglots, speakers of multiple languages, offer fun facts, sing-along songs, educational pictures, and high energy that keeps children engaged and ready to start learning another language.
“The kids make learning a new language fun and they’re always so colorful which grabs my attention every time I see them in the community,” owner of the Kandy Kupboard Kandy Store, Sharyna Cloud said.
The children have also written seven colorful bilingual books that accompany the videos on their YouTube channel. The books like It’s Spanish Playtime, Let’s Learn Kiswahili, I Can Speak English (ESL), and I Am Africa are helping children around the world learn foreign languages in unique ways, preparing young minds for higher levels of thinking.
According to developmental psychology expert Barbara Lust and her collaborator Sujin Yang, it’s important to learn other languages at a young age. And the earlier that a child learns a second language, they say, the more likely the child will more quickly attain native-like language proficiency.
The books are also a part of a growing series called Our Colorful Multilingual Adventures that was started 5 years ago by their mother Shy Santiago.
“This family is amazing, and I for one am so happy and grateful to have them as a part of my child’s educational circle.” Andre Pilare-English, a full-time single dad said.
To learn more about Multilingual Stars Academy and purchase the books, visit them at their official website at LearnALanguage4Fun.com.
You can also subscribe to their YouTube and follow their Instagram @learnalanguage4fun2day.
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