Early language learning

For years now, the Multilingual Centre of Bolzano and the Multimedia Language Centre of Merano have been offering resources, tools and suggestions to support language learning from an early age.  Increasing numbers of children learn two or more languages at the same time, before the onset of puberty, when the areas of the brain that acquire language are at the height of their powers.

The most important project, in which the Provincial Department for Italian Culture has been taking part for years, through the Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages and together with Rai Fiction and the European Community, is undoubtedly “Hocus & Lotus”, a cartoon series in five different languages, created for the active promotion of language learning.

The Department for Italian Culture and Office for Bilingualism and Foreign Languages continue to offer information on early language learning and to interact effectively with families and other stakeholders who are interested, such as cultural and social promoters and educators within the pre-school system.

As well as materials in many languages, available on loan, free of charge, the Multilingual Centre has also selected a series of information texts about early language learning (“Bilingual and multilingual educations” with a list of websites (Italian or German) containing tangible strategies and handy suggestions on how to support the early learning of more than one language at home, at school and during free time. The library also offers a selection of free audio and video podcasts of cartoons, songs and stories in different languages.

The Multimedia Language Centre of Merano offers a small-sized multimedia centre for kids. Every year the kids corner hosts linguistic animation activities for children from 4 to 8 years of age, a way to get acquainted early with the English or German language. A series of multi-media materials suitable for children are also available on loan, such as animated cartoons, stories and digital fairy tales, audio-books and many games on cd-rom, and also courses for the various languages.

Here you can find our Tips on raising a bilingual child (Document aviable in Italian).