1. Start the second
language learning as early in your child’s life as possible. Experts
agree – the earlier, the better. Think of how you learned your
native language. It’s all about vocabulary at first so remember that
repetition is the key for all your child’s learning. Experts say it
is just as easy for a child to learn two words in two languages for
one item as it is to learn just one word. Introduce the new language
bilingually, using the native language and the new together, for any
child birth through 8-10 years old. (Immersion should be used for
children 8 -10 and older.)
2. Find a bilingual
language learning program, product or class for your child that
incorporates the following components necessary for success: visual,
music, beginning reading and verbal exchange. Give your child the
opportunity to enjoy the new language daily for 10 to 30 minutes
(depending upon the age of your child, more time needs to be spent
as your child continues to develop his language skills).
3. Show your child you
value speaking a second language. If you speak mainly English in
your home invite a Spanish speaking friend over, attend cultural
events where both native & new languages are spotlighted through
music, dance, food and more and turn on the Spanish channel on TV
and the radio. If you speak mainly Spanish in your home invite new
English speaking friends over and get them involved in learning
Spanish as you cook for them, entertain them and welcome them into
your home, visit the local library for bilingual books and fun
children’s programs and make learning the new language fun for your
child and yourself.
4. Do not allow anyone
try to convince you that learning a second language needs to come
after your child has mastered her native language. The myth that
children will be language delayed or have a language disorder if a
new language is introduced early in life is just that – a myth. The
latest study out of Texas on this subject suggests that children up
to the age of five can learn five languages simultaneously. I will
caution that you not settle for immersion for your young child
during her school day. It should not be ‘sink or swim’ in the
English only classroom for the Spanish speaking child nor should a
Spanish only class be used with your English speaking first grader.
Your child should be allowed contact with his/her native language
throughout the day until at least the age of 8-10 years old.
5. For Spanish
speaking families it is a lot of work to continue your native
language within your home and community when English is the dominant
and daily language your child hears. As in most of parenting, keep a
smile first of all. Refuse to fall into the trap of making your
child ‘perform’ in your native Spanish language. Encourage your
child to appreciate their native language by appreciating it
yourself and speaking it with love. Try not threaten to speak only
in Spanish to your child in order to get them to respond back to you
in Spanish. This will alienate them from you, their language and
their heritage. Your child will understand everything you say to
them, but your child might often times make the conscious effort to
refuse to verbalize back in their native tongue due to your threats.
One last note: You, as the parent, need to practice your new
language of English. Try to make it a family effort to soften your
accent when speaking English. Instead of being embarrassed by your
Spanish accent, show your child you are proud to be Hispanic and
will continue to work on your new language as you ask your child to
work on their native language. Practice what you preach!
6. Have realistic
expectations for your child. Becoming fluent in a new language takes
time and takes living the language. Avoid getting a one-on-one tutor
for your child during the early years (birth – 8 years old). This
language journey should be fun – filled with music, games and
creativity (not conjugating verbs and grammar). Try not to look for
your child to be conversational after benchmarks you set up
yourself. Every child learns and develops differently – allow your
child to enjoy this language learning by not pressuring your child
to excel in or perform in either language. The sign of a true
linguist is one who code switches. That is, one who can flow between
both languages easily within one sentence, one thought, one
conversation.
7. The ideal situation
in any home where the parent wishes to raise a bilingual child is
for one parent to speak Spanish full time with their young child
while the other parent speaks English full time. They would flow
back and forth between the two languages – explaining things in both
languages when possible. We all realize this takes a tremendous
amount of effort. We also realize that this is not the norm in most
households across the world which is why we look for simple
solutions that fit into our daily lives.
