What do you think? Is it a superpower or a skill that bilingual or multilingual children have a strong grasp of language structure?
Parents often come to me with worry when their children mix languages. They fear that their children are confused because of the two or more languages they are learning. This is not a weakness!
Have you heard people say “children are like sponges, they soak up languages?” Well, this isn’t entirely true. Four elements are needed for children to learn language.
Motivation plays a crucial role in language learning, but what drives an adult can differ greatly from what inspires a child. So how can we effectively support children as they learn additional languages?
reason why creating a caring, positive, and encouraging environment is a critical element for language acquisition. All languages should be celebrated and appreciated. This inspired me to write my book as a practical guide for parents and educators to learn more about supporting multilingual children.
When I was just six years old, a teacher told my mother not to speak to me in German because it would confuse me as I learned Italian. This is a common and false belief. Help me spread the word to educators, pediatricians, and parents with the truth so that more children can learn different languages.
Language or learning disorders should not discourage parents or educators from exposing children to additional languages. Research shows that all children can grow up learning multiple languages.
You might not believe it, but just because someone is bilingual or multilingual does not mean they can speak all their languages like a native. When we learn new languages, we often learn them in a specific context and our competency in that language will be based on that context.
What does it really take to raise a bilingual child, and how can you best support their language development? These are just a few of the questions addressed in a newly released book, "Watch Your Language, Mom! : A Guide to Multilingualism."
