How to Help the Young Bilingual Brain Thrive In a New Environment
LUCIA AGULLA, MA, RCC, VITALITY COLLECTIVE VANCOUVER THERAPIST & REGISTERED CLINICAL COUNSELLOR
Moving to a new country can be an exciting yet challenging experience, especially when it comes to ensuring your children's language development in a bilingual environment. As an immigrant parent, you may have concerns about how your child will acquire language skills in the new country, and also about how they will keep the connection to your own native tongue. This post aims to provide you with insights and practical ideas to support your child's language acquisition journey and help them thrive as bilingual individuals.
1. Embrace Bilingualism:
First and foremost, understand that bilingualism is a gift that will enrich your child's life. Research shows that children raised in bilingual environments can develop enhanced cognitive abilities and a deep appreciation for different cultures. Some of the neuroscientific latest findings point to enhancements in attention, task-switching, conflict-resolution skills, and metalinguistic awareness to name a few. Embrace the fact that your child has the opportunity to become proficient in two languages, which is a tremendous advantage in today's interconnected world.
2. Create a Language-Rich Environment:
To support your child's language development, it is crucial to provide a language-rich environment at home. This means exposing them to both languages consistently. Speak to your child in your native language, sharing stories, engaging in conversations, and encouraging them to express themselves freely. Additionally, incorporate activities such as reading books, singing songs, and watching age-appropriate shows in both languages to further expose them to vocabulary and language structures.
3. Foster Regular Language Exposure:
Consistency is key when it comes to language exposure. Aim to create opportunities for your child to hear and use both languages daily. Seek out community resources, such as bilingual playgroups or language classes, where your child can interact with peers who speak the same languages. Additionally, maintain connections with your native culture by visiting family and friends or participating in community events that celebrate your heritage and language.
4. Be a Language Model:
As a parent, your role as a language model is crucial. Demonstrate your own proficiency and pride in your native language, as this will motivate your child to follow suit. Engage in conversations with your child, narrate daily activities, and encourage them to respond in the language of their choice. Celebrate their language milestones and provide positive reinforcement to boost their confidence in both languages.
5. Encourage Language Separation:
Bilingual children may engage in code-switching, which is the practice of switching between languages within a conversation or even within a sentence. Code-switching is a normal and natural linguistic behaviour for bilingual individuals and does not indicate confusion or language delay. It often reflects the child's language proficiency and the social context of language use. While code-switching is to be expected, it is also important to encourage language separation. Help your child understand that each language has its unique purpose and context. Encourage them to use one language when speaking to family members, and the other when communicating with friends or at school. This practice will enhance their language proficiency and their ability to adapt to different linguistic environments.
6. Foster Literacy in Both Languages:
Reading is a powerful tool for language development. Introduce books, magazines, and age-appropriate reading materials in both languages. Visit libraries or online platforms that offer bilingual resources, and engage in shared reading activities with your child. This will not only enhance their vocabulary and comprehension skills but also foster a love for reading in both languages.
7. Seek Community Support:
Connect with local immigrant communities or cultural organizations that can provide additional support and resources. These communities often organize language programs, cultural events, and workshops that can enrich your child's language development journey. Networking with other immigrant parents can also offer valuable insights and opportunities for language practice with peers who share similar experiences.
8. Monitor Language Progress:
Every child's language development is unique, and it is important to monitor their progress. Keep in mind that bilingual children may reach language milestones slightly differently than monolingual children. For example, bilingual children may initially have a smaller vocabulary in each language compared to monolingual children, as they are acquiring words from two languages simultaneously. However, when the total vocabulary from both languages is combined, bilingual children often have a vocabulary that is comparable to or even slightly larger than that of monolingual children. If you have concerns about your child's language development, consult with professionals such as pediatricians, speech therapists, or educators who specialize in bilingualism. They can offer guidance and support tailored to your child's needs.
It is important to note that language development is a complex and individual process influenced by various factors. While bilingualism itself does not cause delays in language development, certain additional factors such as limited exposure to one or both languages, language disorders, or developmental conditions may impact language acquisition in some cases. Regular and meaningful exposure to both languages, along with support from caregivers and a language-rich environment, is crucial for optimal language development in bilingual children. With your love, support, and commitment, your child will flourish as a confident bilingual individual, embracing the best of both cultures and languages.