By Eve-Lucille

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Do you speak more than one language and wish your child could do the same? Being bilingual in our interconnected world is a considerable asset. It is often said that children are like sponges and can easily learn any language from a very young age. That said, there are a few points to keep in mind to help them succeed.

What is the best age to learn multiple languages?

Preschool years are an excellent time to learn new languages because a toddler's brain easily adapts to new experiences. Did you know that between two and three years old, a child's brain activity is twice as intense as that of an adult? Moreover, children of this age distinguish the sounds of different languages around them more easily, allowing them to speak with a native accent.

How to help a child learn new languages?

• To learn two or more languages fluently, a child must hear them often and have the opportunity to speak them. One way to achieve this is to cultivate a social network where these languages are used during activities such as community events, sports classes, family outings, meetings with friends, etc.
• Reading stories to your child in different languages is a fun and effective way to stimulate language learning from an early age.
• Travel, spend time abroad, or visit extended family members who speak other languages.

When parents speak two different languages

• It is preferable that parents do not mix the two languages in the same sentence when speaking to their child, as this can complicate the learning of the minority language (the language spoken by a minority of people in their environment).
• It is essential to multiply the opportunities for exposure to the minority language. Perhaps you could decide to speak one language during the week and the other on weekends? It is also important to create a positive environment around the minority language to encourage learning, as the child will very early understand that one of their languages is not used outside the family circle. That is why many children understand a second language without being able to speak it.
• Speak to your child in your native language to provide a good model of using the language you know best.

When both parents speak the same language

Often, two parents who share the same native language wish for their child to be fully bilingual. Even if this may seem more difficult, it works very well with a little planning and effort.

• Expose your child as often as possible to books, movies, music, as well as TV and radio channels in the second language.
• Ensure that your child develops a solid foundation in the minority language very early on by enrolling them, for example, in a daycare where this language is the only or main one used.
• At the same time, you can also enroll your child in language classes to support their learning.

The most important thing is to foster a balance between the two languages as soon as possible, as several factors can influence the learning of different languages and the choice of language the child uses.

Can learning multiple languages cause a language delay?

Mixing languages does not harm overall language development and does not cause delay or difficulty. A five-year-old child regularly exposed to two or more languages will have language development similar to that of a child who speaks only one language. However, it is normal for a child to have different strengths in each language. They may construct better sentences in one and have a broader and more precise vocabulary in the other.

Avoid assessing the language skills of a bilingual child in only one language. It is better to consider all words and sentences formulated in both languages. The most important thing is to foster a balance between the two languages as soon as possible, as several factors can influence the learning of different languages and the choice of language the child uses. Among these factors are age, time of exposure to the languages, the status of these languages in the country where you live, etc.

Ultimately, bilingualism from an early age is a considerable asset in many areas of life and an invaluable gift to offer your children.

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Source: ITC Global

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