The path to successful acquisition of a second or third language is different for everyone. There are certain things which are common among all learners may it be be a language learner or not. Family support is vital. What is done at home or with the family creates a solid foundation to be built on in school.
I work in a multilingual school where every child has to learn a second language. A lot of these children have been learning their second language form age 6. But they still struggle in later years with the language. Their are some however who excel and are fluent at that stage.
When we sought for further information as to why these children are not progressing. We found that the language is not used at home. In some cases no attempts are made to immerse these children into the language out side of school.
Family support is the game changer. If we we make the decision that our children need to learn a new language then they need our support. In my own case I am still learning French, but I know enough to support my boys. Even when I did not know “a word in French” I still made sure that my boys heard French. They were totally immersed into the language. Today they are fluent with a deep French accent.
Below I will share 5 strategies we can use to support our child at home. Let’s dive in.
Play-based strategies
By engaging in playtime activities that involve your bilingual or multilingual child, you are providing them with a means of communication. The more exposure your child(ren) has to the targeted language, the more likely it is that your child will pick up that language.
One of the best ways to do this is to incorporate new words and phrases into your household’s playtime. With the right toys and games, you can easily incorporate new objects or animals into family games, such as “I Spy with My Little Eye”. You can also try creating homemade toys and games, such as ABC Folktales or other family-friendly stories.
If you speak many languages, it’s important to keep your child’s exposure to language consistent, even if one parent speaks to your child in one language while the other one speaks to them in another. I once worked in a language school where their method of teaching was just playing games and talking with peers and teachers.
Learning through reading
Research has shown that bilingual or multilingual individuals perform better in reading, writing, and mathematics when there’s a strong foundation in spoken language. Reading may be one of the most important family language strategies for bilingual or multilingual children.
The more exposure your bilingual or multilingual child has in reading, the more fluent they will become in their new language. Reading doesn’t just involve books, but can also incorporate other forms of communication, such as cooking or playing with puzzles.
Some bilingual or multilingual individuals prefer to read non-fiction books, while others prefer to read fantasy or fairy tales. Try to find books that incorporate elements of the new language you want your child to learn. Read road signs, movie titles etc. Keep it fun.
Learning through interaction
If your bilingual or multilingual child is more interested in animated movies or toys than reading, have them create their own. Have your bilingual or multilingual child roleplay different situations, such as a doctor’s appointment or restaurant visit.
Talking about different scenarios that incorporate the new language you are trying to learn will help your child understand the meaning behind the words. This keep them motivated, you therefore don’t have to nag them. My boys love to create their own picture books or draw their scenarios on white board then roleplay. This gets them talking and thus experimenting with vocabulary as they go along. Staying consistent with your family’s language usage will help your bilingual or multilingual child learn to speak and read new phrases faster.
Learning through songs and rhymes
This can never grow old. There is a reason why this is how we were taught in early years settings. This is still relevant. Songs and rhymes are a great way to introduce new words, phrases, and concepts to your bilingual or multilingual child.
You can also incorporate songs and rhymes into your household’s playtime. Making up your own songs or using rhymes that incorporate words and phrases from the new language you are trying to learn will help your child to associate the new words with the actions they see you performing.
By performing similar actions to songs that incorporate the new language you want your child to learn, your bilingual or multilingual child can learn to associate the new words and phrases with the actions they see you performing.
Learning through storytelling
I must say I love to talk. I guess it comes with being a teacher for many years. My children love to talk as well so we turn this in telling stories about everything. My boys create their stories and act them out. Stories are a great way to help your bilingual or multilingual child learn new language words, phrases, and concepts.
Make up your own stories about new objects, animals, or locations that incorporate new words and phrases from the new language you are trying to learn. Creating your own stories will help your bilingual or multilingual child learn to associate new words, phrases, and concepts with the story. You can also read books about new objects, animals, or locations that incorporate new words and phrases from the new language you are trying to learn.
Conclusion
Raising a bilingual or multilingual child can be a challenge. It takes patience, preparation, and above all else, consistency. By following these tips, you can make family language learning a success. You may want to enlist the help of a bilingual or multilingual family friend or neighbor to help make this easier.
Happy reading and please feel free to share your family strategy.
KA.
Kerrian Adebanjo
Primarily, I want to help my audience support their English-speaking child who is learning French. I am passionate about this because I have managed to support my three monolingual English-speaking boys from never speaking a word of French to now speaking fluent French. I hope to help parents understand the dynamism behind being bilingual, and to see their child's second language as not just spoken words but as a way of life.