"Bilingualism gives kids a broader version of the world"
If your family is multicultural, then choosing a baby name won’t be an easy task. Not only is there already enough pressure in figuring out a name that suits your family as well as something that’s original and works for both sides of the family. …
A child has learned to understand a language but is unable (or unwilling) to speak it. for example, in cases where children attend schools where the home language is not supported, the child has more exposure and opportunity to practice English than the home language. …
In bilingual families, maintaining and practicing a minority language can be particularly daunting when one parent does not speak that language. However, with dedication and creativity, families can create an environment that encourages exposure to and active use of the minority language. This post explores …
Bilingualism and Special Needs Education: Strategies for Language Development”
In today’s digital age, unlocking bilingualism through technology and multimedia content is key to enriching language learning experiences for children. In this post, we’ll explore how technology and multimedia content can enrich language learning experiences for young learners. Technology plays a significant role in shaping …
In bilingual families, maintaining and practicing a minority language can be particularly daunting when one parent does not speak that language. However, with dedication and creativity, families can create an environment that encourages exposure to and active use of the minority language. This post explores …
If you have a child learning Spanish or any other language or are thinking of introducing her to a second language. In that case, these questions will help you evaluate and create a school year of successful language learning. Is the second language a part …
It is possible to raise a bilingual child even if you do not speak a second language yourself. It will be a challenge that needs motivation and patience but is not impossible. Being bilingual is a gift and a skill you are giving your child …
A child has learned to understand a language but is unable (or unwilling) to speak it. for example, in cases where children attend schools where the home language is not supported, the child has more exposure and opportunity to practice English than the home language. …
Fluency in a language comes from practice. Especially, if the minority language is only spoken at home. As an immigrant in the USA, I have had the opportunity of traveling with my kids to my home country to expose them to my language. This opportunity …
And What It Tells Us about the Science of Language by Albert Costa– Book Review Does speaking more than one language alter your brain? Is it the equivalent of having one body with two souls? Over the past century, perceptions of bilingualism have swayed from …
There is no other feeling in the world that would make you feel happy, anxious, rejoice and panic, all at the same time, than the excitement of the arrival of your first baby. You are getting ready for your baby’s much-expected arrival. The day when …
If your family is multicultural, then choosing a baby name won’t be an easy task. Not only is there already enough pressure in figuring out a name that suits your family as well as something that’s original and works for both sides of the family. …
It takes a village to raise a child and especially a bilingual one. Raising a child is already quite a task, but doing it with multiple languages is a completely different mission. Especially if you are the only speaker of the minority language on a regular day, you need all the help you can get to help expose children to the minority language. Different family members can help provide exposure to a broader variety of languages. It will also require extra effort on your part to provide enough language exposure, extra encouragement and keeping the language rules consistent.
The best time to teach your child a second language is the same time that they are learning their first one. The earlier you introduce it, the easier it will be for your child to pick up its unique sounds. Besides, the younger the child, the less likely they are to care about mistakes or mispronounced words. They will just chatter away, not even realizing they are using different languages.
If you don’t want to do any formal lessons, you can introduce bilingual basics by telling your child how to say a new word in a second language. When teaching a new word, point out an object and tell them the name in English and Spanish. This way, the sounds of the new word are already becoming familiar.
The best way for a child to understand a new language is to hear people speaking it regularly. If a child is listening to regular conversations, they’ll begin to pick up the sounds and the natural accents of those words in a natural, unstructured manner. Different speakers do not only expose a child to the language. They also bring along exposure to a variety of the language. They may use different words, expressions, sentence structures or even speak a different accent.
It’s also beneficial to facilitate situations in which your child can interact with a native language speaker. Find ways to surround them with native speakers of that language especially around the community and encourage them to make friends with Spanish speakers or be a part of Spanish speaking groups. Having a clear need and opportunity to speak the language is the best motivation for both of you.
We always make sure that the books, music, and movies we have at home are in the language you are encouraging them to learn. Besides that, we always ask grandmothers to bring books and toys from our home countries when they are visiting us. If you start early, you really don’t need to enroll your child in formal language classes. There are so many materials available in libraries, bookstores and on the internet that will support your bilingual teaching.
Choosing a bilingual children’s book to read to your child at night, for example, could help them build a connection with the second language you are encouraging them to learn. Studies have shown that reading to your child can help improve their social and emotional skills, as well as improve their reading comprehension and literacy.