submitted on Thu, 10/04/2007 - 22:39 in Bilingual kids English/Italian Group by Serginho Similar media
Half the world’s population is bilingual.
And many more speak more than one language from an early age.
Through Neccessity:
Some nations are officially bi- or multilingual. Well-known examples include India, Belgium and Canada. But bilinguals certainly do not only live in those countries; there are also a great many in monolingual countries. Some countries, especially those which were recently colonies, chose a single official language simply because of the multitude of languages spoken within their borders. Most citizens of these countries are bilingual. Even in Europe, where many assume that bilingualism is rare, every country has at least one linguistic minority whose members are, usually, bilingual
- Consistency: Whatever pattern you choose, stick to it. Although children can learn two languages in what seems like chaos, a reasonable amount of consistency will make their job, and yours, simpler. Once children learn the pattern they are often disturbed when a parent breaks it.
- Rich Environment: This doesn't mean the children need expensive toys or special tools, but they need songs, bedtime stories, and other linguistic stimulation just as monolingual children do - except that bilingual children need it in both their languages. This will mean an extra demand on your time, both to give them this stimulation and to find the books, recorded music and other objects you want - but it is by no means impossible.
- Children's Needs First: Children should not be forced into bilingualism if it really does make them unhappy; above all they should not be asked to "show off", which embarrasses children and makes them all too aware of being "different".
- Playing It Down: The more you can make bilingualism seem like a natural and unremarkable part of family life, the more likely it is that the children will grow up to enjoy being bilingual, and the more likely it is that you will succeed in keeping both languages active in your home.
