Play, it has no language barriers.

We had been in Cambodia for less than a few hours and my children were wanting permission to run off and play with some kids. At the time, my children didn't speak Khmer and their new little friends didn't speak English.

But both equally fascinated by each other and through body language, it could certainly be seen these little humans needed to be set free and do what little people do.  Play- it had no language barriers. In fact, playing was about to be a major role of my own children learning the Khmer language.

 

Observing my kids, even my youngest child patterns were the same. It didn't matter that they didn't understand it each other, both children knew they liked what they were doing and either communicated in gestures and body language or small words were learnt from each other in order to negociate who is "it" in a game of tag.

It was amazing to watch their language skills improve so rapidly. No formal lessons, just emerging in the culture and letting kids be kids. My children's Khmer quickly supassed my husbands and mine. With my 2nd eldest pictured below speaking fluent.

Maybe us adults can learn something from our kids. Get out of your comfort zone. You don't need to know a language to make a connection with another human. Get out there and make new friends. It can be amazing the things you can learn from someone who is not like you. Language isn't a barrier.

Have you learnt a new language? What methods have you used? Drop me a line below, I would love to hear.