Should I talk to my child in English only since we live in Canada? Will speaking more than one language confuse my child? Will he have difficulty learning English? What is the best approach to speaking to my child in more than one language?
These are the most common questions we receive from parents who speak a language other than English at home. Furthermore , when a child has a language delay, parents are particularly concerned that they should abandon their home language and focus on English for long-term success.
The Good News:
According to Hanen, a non-profit organization since 1975 that focuses on involving parents in their children’s language therapy, “Bilingualism itself does not cause language delay. While bilingual children may start talking slightly later than monolingual children, they still begin talking within the normal range,” between the ages of 8 to 15 months. Even a child with a language delay can benefit from learning more than one language.
Equally important to highlight is the that fact that early exposure to more than one language is beneficial from a neurological, vocational, and cultural perspective, according to Hanen.
Benefits of Bilingualism
1. “Bilingual children are better able to focus their attention on relevant information and ignore distractions.”
2. “Bilingual individuals have been shown to be more creative and better at planning and solving complex problems than monolinguals.”
3. “The effects of aging on the brain are diminished among bilingual adults. In one study, the onset of dementia was delayed by 4 years in bilinguals compared to monolinguals with dementia.”
How should I introduce both languages without confusing my child?
The most important thing is to communicate with your child in a way that is comfortable and feels natural.
Hanen stated that “Early on, [young children] are able to differentiate their two languages and have been shown to switch languages according to their conversation partner.” In other words, they may be speaking Mandarin to mom and immediately switch to English when they see their friends in the park.
Here are a few recommended approaches:
1. One person – One language – eg. mom speaks French; dad speaks English or grandma speaks Italian; mom and dad speak English.
2. One setting – One language – eg. Mandarin at home; English at school.
3. One situtation – One language – eg. storytime or bathtime in Hebrew; the rest of the day in English.
According to Hanen, “Research shows that children who have a strong foundation in their home language more easily learn a second language. Children are also at great risk of losing their home language if it is not supported continually at home.
A bilingual child who is demonstrating significant delays in language milestones could have a language disorder and should be seen by a speech language pathologist.”
Reference:
Hanen. Bilingualism in Young Children: Separating Fact from Fiction. Lowry, Lauren. Available online: http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/
Articles/Bilingualism-in-Young-Children–Separating-Fact-fr.aspx
