'What do I do to help my child learn language in a bi-lingual family'?: Advice For Parents/Carers Of Bilingual Children

Guest post by Sunita Shah, RCSLT Advisor on bilingualism and Chair of the London SIG for Bilingualism

·        It is important that you continue to use all languages introduced to the child. 

·        Do not be concerned about mixing different languages in one sentence.  This is natural for a bilingual speaker.

·        Be consistent in your choice of words to name objects in a particular sentence.  If you are using a word in one sentence do not refer to that word in the additional language in the same sentence.

·        The focus should be helping the child feel successful in giving and receiving a message.  Continue speaking your chosen language/s to your child even if he or she speaks back to you in a different language. If the child responds the message has been understood.

·        Use short phrases with lots of gesture and facial expression, as well as expression in your voice. This will help the child understand the meaning behind the words.

·        Encourage your child’s attempts to communicate in either language, giving lots of praise.

·        Use nursery rhymes and stories from any culture/language.

·        Advice from Speech and Language Therapy programmes can be given in any language.  Discuss this with your Speech & Language Therapist.

You may be concerned that if your child has not heard much English, he/she will be at a disadvantage when starting school. However, as long as your child has a strong foundation in their home language, then there should be no difficulty learning English.

The Speech and Language Therapy profession recognises that Bilingualism in a child is an advantage to learning.




www.londonsigbilingualism.co.uk

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Teaching Children a Second Language - Add Sign Language to the mix?

  

Second guest blog written by:  Christina Schabow,Speech & Language Pathologist MS CCC-SLP, and owner of Baby Sign Language in Play 


An increasing number of families are realizing the benefits of introducing their children to second (or more) languages from an early age.  In this day in age it is becoming more and more possible to raise children bilingually.  What an incredible gift! Choosing and sticking with a plan for what is best for your family in regards to how to go about creating a bilingual home life can be quite challenging.  When I bring up signing with a baby/child, a concern I often hear from parents who speak more than one language at home is “Will adding yet another language to the mix (American Sign Language) be too much?  Won’t this be confusing for my child?!”
While this is a very natural way to feel, the answer is NO!  In fact, using ASL signs with a childof any age who is learning more than one spoken language actually aids in the acquisition of the second language.  This happens for a couple of reasons:

• Signs serve as a visual cue of the new word’s meaning - Signs are often visually representative of the concept they represent.  For example, when you sign BALL and say “pelota”, the sign is a great cue as to the meaning of the word because the sign for BALL actually looks like a ball!  This is true for many signs.

• Signs serve as bridges helping children to find commonalities between language- In other words, a child may learn very early on that when you put your hands together (like the sign fore MORE) that means MORE!  When you ask your child in the second language  “Quieres Mas?” the first several times you might get a look from your child like “huh?!”  But if you say “Quieres Mas?” while signing that familiar sign MORE, a lightbulb will go on!!  Instead of “huh?” your child will likely be thinking  “I’m really not sure what mom just said, but I know that sign means MORE and yes, I want MORE!”  Over time as he hears “Quieres Mas?” and simultaneously sees the sign MORE, he will connect meaning to the phrase, increasing understanding and thus use of the new language.

Adding signs to the mix will not confuse your child!  It facilitates the process of understanding and using a new language.  The is not only true for babies but for older children as well!  This is just one of the many benefits of signing with a child!

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