Raising Bilingual Kids
Instructions
Read the story below at your level. Then, study the key words and phrases. Later, use them in your conversations and writing this week.
Reading
My son is bilingual. Here are two tips to help your kids.
1. Read ‘Raising a Bilingual Child’ by Barbara Zurer Pearson, Ph.D.
This book helped me a lot. It will help you too. It uses example stories of parents and their children in different countries.
2. Speak a lot
You should talk to your kids every day. I talk to my son when we go to the park. We talk when we play games. We have fun drawing and writing. Many parents never talk to their kids. They worry too much. “My English isn’t good enough”, or “I’m worried about making a mistake”.
Remember:
- No trying = no change
- Parents speak = kids speak
- A little English is better than no English..
- Making mistakes is okay.
Flesch-Kinkead – Grade: 3
Many students ask me how to help their children be bilingual or how to make learning English easier. I don’t teach children, but they ask because I’m raising my son to be bilingual.
Successfully, too.
There are two tips that have helped me greatly.
1. Read Raising a Bilingual Child: Barbara Zurer Pearson, Ph.D.
Information is power. The more information you have, the better prepared you are to make good decisions.
This book helped me understand the many myths and rumors around raising bilingual children. It uses a number of case studies of parents raising their children with in various combinations of parent languages.
Imagine French parents in France raising their children to speak German, or a Japanese mother and German father living in the US raising their kids to speak several languages.
Whatever situation you are in, this book can help.
2. Speak
My son has been bilingual his whole life. By three, he was already translating for me when I didn’t understand.
So what did I do?
I just talked to him. Normal conversation, every day. Simple things like speaking when we go to the park or when we play a game are all a kid needs. We have fun drawing and writing. We are fortunate that there are lots of free materials online.
The most effective technique has always been to just talk.
Unfortunately, this is also the one thing the parents who ask me for help never do. They make excuses like, “My English isn’t good enough”, or “I’m worried about making a mistake”.
They give up without trying.
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- If you give up, nothing will change.
- Your kids will copy you. So, if you speak the language, they will too.
- Anything you say, is better than nothing at all.
- It’s ok to make mistakes.
Flesch-Kinkead – Grade: 5
A number of of my students have asked me me how they can help their children grow up with English; if not to be bilingual, at least how to make learning English a little less burdensome for them. Although I don’t actually teach children, they ask because they are aware that I’m raising my own son to be bilingual.
Successfully, I might add.
Here are a couple of suggestions that have helped me immensely.
1. Read ‘Raising a Bilingual Child’ by Barbara Zurer Pearson, Ph.D.
Information is power and the more informed you are, the better prepared you will be to make good decisions for you and your kids.
This book was an immensely helpful in dispelling many of the myths and rumors associated with raising children to be bilingual. It lays out a number of case studies of parents raising their children with varying degrees of material access and in various combinations of parent languages.
Imagine French parents in France raising their children to speak German, or a Japanese mother and German father living in the US raising their kids to speak several languages.
Whatever situation you find yourself in, this book has you covered.
2. Speak a lot
My son is fully bilingual and has been his whole life. By three, he was already translating for me when I didn’t understand.
So what did I do?
I just talked to him. Normal conversation, every day. Simple things like speaking when we go to the park or when we are playing a game are all a kid really needs. We have fun drawing and writing and we are fortunate enough that there are lots of free materials online for us to access.
But the most effective technique with him has always been to just talk.
Unfortunately, this is also the one thing the parents who come to me asking for help never do. They make all kinds of excuses like their English isn’t good enough or they are worried about making a mistake.
They give up without trying.
Here are a few things to keep in mind.
- If you give up, nothing will change.
- Your kids will copy you. So if you speak the target language, they will too.
- Anything you say, is better than giving them nothing at all.
- It’s ok to make mistakes.
Flesch-Kinkead – Grade: 6.3
Key Terms
bilingual – able to speak two languages
I’m not totally fluent but I am bilingual. I speak Spanish and English.
tips – small ideas to help you improve
My running coach gave me some great tips. Now I can run faster.
Can I give you a tip? Try using a little turmeric in your eggs.
worry – bad emotional feeling like fear
I have a test tomorrow. I studied but I’m worried.
I can’t sleep. I’m worried about my presentation tomorrow.
myths
a. fantastical stories of gods and spirits
At school, we read Greek myths about Zeus and Heracles.
b. common stories that are not based in fact or untrue
There is a ridiculous myth that being bilingual will confuse children. Totally untrue.
rumors – simple stories people spread through conversation and usually, partly untrue
A: Did you hear the rumor about Susan in accounting?
B: No. Why? What’s up?
A: I heard she’s dating Ted in the mailroom.
B: No! Where did you hear that?
A: Richard told me. You know he loves to gossip.
effective – successful in reaching a result
The commercial said this cream is effective for growing hair.
I think all my study techniques are pretty effective. I’m learning a lot.
burdensome – troublesome, difficult to do
Replying to all these emails is a real pain. I wish it wasn’t so burdensome.
immensely – to a great extent, very
That test was immensely difficult.
I’m immensely grateful for your help.
keep in mind – remember / don’t forget
Please keep in mind, the meeting will be starting at three o’clock, not two.
