Is There an Effective Way to Raise Bilingual Children Successfully?
Motivation is key. But that is not all.
I live in a country with four official languages — German, French, Italian, and Romansh. Lots of people here in Switzerland are either bilingual or multilingual. And so it was not surprising for us to decide that we would want our children to grow up bilingual too.
Most children here already speak two languages. In my daughter’s school, there are children who speak English, Japanese, French, Italian, Dutch, and Spanish in addition to the local language (German). Local Swiss children where we live speak the dialect too (Swiss German).
Is there a secret to speaking two or more languages fluently? Is there an effective way to raise bilingual children successfully?
Motivation is Key
One of the most important keys in learning two languages (or more) is motivation. Parents should be motivated to teach the language. Children should be motivated to learn the language. Motivation is normally already given if the father or mother wants to teach his or her mother tongue. But it gets more difficult if the parent wants to teach his or her second language.
If there is no internal motivation from the parent, it will be hard to find the time and energy to teach the language. If there is no motivation from the child to learn another language, it is doubtful that he or she can reach true proficiency either.
Initial setbacks can also hinder motivation. I know a family who stopped speaking two languages because it confused the child. They will resume teaching the second language (French) when the child is older. This is also fine.
It is never too late to begin learning a second language.
Consistency is Essential
If the entire family is willing to go this path, they will have to choose a strategy. Consistency in following the chosen strategy is as important, or possibly even more important than the strategy chosen itself.
There are several to choose from, and each family can decide which one fits them best.
I will cover the four most common below:
- One Person, One Language (OPOL): Each parent will choose his or her language and stick to it. For example, the father speaks only German; the mother speaks only English. Or the mother speaks only French, the father speaks only German. This is what we practice in our family.
- Minority Language at Home: The family speaks the minority language at home and the community language outside the home. For example, our neighbors speak Russian with their daughter at home. But the child learns German outside their home.
- Time and Place: The family decides on a language to speak based on a specific time and place. This is confusing for really young children. I also do not know any family doing this at home. But my friend’s daughter has this system in her bilingual school. They learn in German for two consecutive weeks and then switch to English for two consecutive weeks. The languages are taught by different teachers and in different classrooms.
- Mixed Language: Mixed language policy just means mixing two or several languages interchangeably. I know a mom who wanted to teach her children both Spanish and English. So she uses both consistently. Her children understand both languages fluently.
Find Support For Language Development
It is important to find support for language development. In Switzerland, we are lucky to have the schools support children in learning at least two languages. Depending on where the child lives, they will first learn their local language. Since we live in the German-speaking region, our children already have German in school. Starting third grade, they will learn English.
If the school does not support a second language, try finding extra language classes in your area. A good language teacher will be able to promote language learning by selecting engaging topics, creating a pleasant instead of stressful atmosphere, and emphasizing the usefulness of the foreign language.
Visit your local library and search for books (printed or audio) in the secondary language. Watching appropriate television shows or films in the other language can also help, although it is not as effective as an engaging chat. If it is possible, visit the country or city where that language is widely spoken. Finally, give the child multiple opportunities to hear and practice the language.
Final Thoughts
Any person or child can learn a new language if he is motivated. This is one of the most important keys to success. This motivation should be cultivated by supportive parents and teachers.
There is no right way and wrong way to raise bilingual children. And the most effective way is to choose a strategy that works for you and your family. Learning a new language takes time, effort, and consistency. As long as you pursue it and not give up, you will be successful.
Resources
Rosenback, Rita. Bringing up a Bilingual Child. Filament Publishing Ltd, 16, Croydon Road, Waddon, Croydon, Surrey, CRO 4PA, United Kingdom, 2014.
Tokuhama-Espinosa, Tracey. Raising Multilingual Children: Foreign Language Acquisition and Children. Bergin and Garvey, 88 Post Road West, Westport, CT 06881, 2001.
