With globalization taking place, parents tend to focus on teaching their children English as a second language alongside their native language or languages. However, that is only sometimes the case.
Generally, in a struggle to preserve their cultural heritage, immigrant parents try to teach their children their native language or languages alongside English, i.e., the community language. This acquisition of varied languages is a common phenomenon these days, which leads to the accumulation of diverse cultures in a single place.
Who are Bilingual Children?
Bilingual children are those who can use two or more languages with fluency and have acquired a good proficiency in these languages. This acquisition of two or more different languages is referred to as bilingualism.
What Benefits Do Bilinguals Have?
The efforts put in by the parents not only translate to having excellent linguistic abilities in two or more languages but also help garner varied social, economic, cultural, and cognitive benefits. We will go through a detailed account of the advantages of bilingualism in this section.
Cultural Appreciation
Language and culture are very intricately connected. It is essential to understand that learning a language is only possible by looking into the culture that the language comes from. A language, hence, is a representation of its specific culture.
When a child learns a language, they, in return, develop an understanding of its culture too. That leads to a cultural appreciation among bilinguals since they are exposed to different languages and simultaneously different cultures.
For example, a child can find words in both English and Chinese that represent the different festivities that are part of the culture. Furthermore, there are specific words for different attire that reflect the cultures that are associated with the two languages.
Social Interaction and Open-Mindedness
Monolingual children can only interact in one language. Consequently, they can only connect to the people who speak the same language. Insights on bilingual child development reveal that, bilingual children can interact not only with other children and adults who speak their first language but also with those who can speak another language. That leads to them making more friends.
Their friendships are not only the result of their ability to speak a second language but also their better communication and comprehension skills. That means that bilingual children can express themselves better than monolingual children and understand what someone is trying to say due to their improved linguistic skills.
Additionally, these different interactions result in an open mindset. Bilingual children become less biased toward other cultures, views, and opinions. Their experience with foreign languages allows them to understand how people from different cultures think and express themselves. Hence, when someone expresses their opinions, perspectives, thoughts, and intentions, bilingual children can absorb them more easily.
Furthermore, they can interact with more people and make more friends later in their lives, thanks to their better traveling experiences, facilitated by their ability to speak different languages.
For example, a child who lives in a multicultural society and knows English and Hindi can make both American and Indian friends. The cultural representation in both languages showcases societal norms and ethical values. When a child is exposed to the different ways of life of both the Indian people and the American people, they understand that there is no such thing as right and wrong. That leads to their enhanced acceptance of different viewpoints.
Advanced Cognitive Functioning and Academic Enhancement
In varied research, it has been reiterated that speaking two or more languages leads to better cognitive functioning in children. These developed cognitive functions result in skills that are related to creativity, multitasking, information gathering, concentration, etc.
How does raising bilingual children translate to this advanced cognitive functioning? Language usage is highly dependent on the understanding of context and the need to code-switch. Conclusively, this constant switching results in a brain workout.
Furthermore, bilingual children perform better and can indulge in teamwork due to their positive and tolerant attitude. They can concentrate on their tasks, perform analytical skills, and multitask.
For example, due to bilingual children’s knowledge of vocabulary and usage of words, they can better express their abstract concepts and ideas.
Emotional Stability and Sense of Identity
Immigrant families mostly put in additional efforts to ensure that their children remain connected to their parental heritage. For this purpose, bilingualism is pursued. When children can use both the community language and the native language of their parents, they develop a sense of identity.
Furthermore, the exposure of the native language’s culture through arts like movies, music, and literature further aids in the sense of identity. Additionally, during family gatherings, they can communicate with everyone and feel a sense of belonging. This communication will also result in a stronger bond between the children and their families, which provides emotional stability.
For example, a child who refuses to use Korean with their immigrant parents will have a strained relationship with them. However, if they can give input during discussions in the native language, the bond will strengthen alongside the child’s sense of belonging.
Successful Practical Life
The benefits of bilingualism extend beyond personal and academic life. Professionally, bilingualism results in better career opportunities due to an individual’s knowledge of varied cultures and their ability to adjust to a fast-paced, diverse environment.
The appreciation for cultures and languages will not only extend to the cultures they know and the languages they speak but also to all other different cultures and languages. As a result, they can participate in global communities and gather information from multiple resources.
For example, a multinational community will look for employees who are akin to at least more than one culture in order to ensure they fit well in their culturally diverse workplace.
What Obstacles can be encountered?
All these benefits, though, do not mean that bilingualism can be achieved effortlessly. If that were the case, parents would not opt to abandon making their children bilingual halfway through. So, how to raise a bilingual child? Given below is a brief account of some common challenges.
Evading Passive Bilingualism
At times, the first issue encountered by parents is passive bilingualism. Here is how we can explain passive bilingualism: a child can understand a language but is unable to use it in utterances. It can develop when there is an imbalance in exposure to the first and second language.
In cases like these, parents speak their native language in the house but fail to focus on the language chosen by the children to respond. Hence, the children, regardless of their comprehension abilities in the parent’s native language, do not feel the need to use it. As a result, they respond to their parents in the dominant or preferred language.
For example, children who understand both Spanish and English can use English exclusively for spoken purposes.
Preferring Dominant Language
That leads to another challenge. Children mostly have a preferred or dominant language. It is the language that they have more exposure to and tend to use more. In most of the cases, the community language is their preferred language.
This hassle of creating a balance between the preferred and the non-preferred language can be petrifying. Parents can have difficulty getting their children to use more of the non-preferred language.
For example, in American society, an Italian child is exposed to English at a much higher level compared to Italian. Hence, English will become the dominant language due to the influence of the surroundings.
Code-Switching
Code-switching is one of the most commonly encountered problems of bilingualism. Children tend to start a sentence in one language and end it with another. That is, sometimes, a result of their need for more vocabulary in a language. To cover the gap, they switch to the other language and use a word or phrase from it.
In such a situation, grammar rules of one language are used to bridge the gaps. Hence, an incorrect sentence is produced. That also results in gaps that remain intact through the years in the second language.
For example, if a child cannot remember what a “dog” is called in French, he will switch to English to finish their sentence.
Refusing Second Language Usage after Joining School
Parents of bilingual children face another challenge when their child refuses to use the second language. This refusal is not due to a lack of interest in the language but due to peer pressure. Once children start school, they can be exposed to social biases towards their native culture or second language.
In order to belong and be accepted, they can refuse to use their native language and dissociate from their culture. That translates to an identity crisis, which can quickly escalate if not handled carefully.
For example, if children of native Japanese parents are bullied for loving Japanese movies or songs, they can stop using the language and appreciate the cultural heritage.
Developing Reading and Writing
It is important to note that language proficiency is achieved by mastering all four of the macro skills, which are reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Primarily, bilingualism revolves around speaking and listening n, while the two other skills come in later.
During the early years of language acquisition, parents tend to neglect reading and writing. Most students develop these skills at school. However, in the case of the parental native language, where the community language is different, educational institutions cannot aid in the development of reading and writing skills in the second language.
For example, a child living in America has acquired listening and speaking skills in German but cannot write in it. If sent to public school, the child will have no chance of developing reading and writing skills in German throughout the school year.
How to Eliminate These Challenges?
We mentioned these challenges for awareness and to keep you from being scared. We can resolve all the challenges we mentioned in the list. Here are some tips that we can use to eliminate the challenges of bilingualism.
Starting at a Young Age
Children need to start learning a second language at a very young age. That helps in breaking habits and getting the children to become familiar with the language.
When starting late, it gets more challenging for children to break habits and switch from one language to another. In such cases, the children continue to prefer using the first language even when they start to understand the second language.
It is also essential to know that infants have the most impressionable brains. They can easily acquire different languages most organically and naturally.
Creating a Need to Speak
Bilingual children mostly prefer one language over the other. In such scenarios, if the parents create a need to speak, the second language usage can be enhanced. If there is no need for the children to speak or use a second language, they will continue communicating in their first language to stay in their comfort zone.
In such cases, it can be helpful to introduce speakers of the minority language to your children. These speakers can be their grandparents, caretakers, or even family friends. When children feel the need to communicate with these people in their minority language, they will start to use it without feeling hesitant.
Being Consistent in Correction
One of the most essential aspects of language development is correction and repetition. Children, when young, make a lot of mistakes in language usage. It is important to correct them instantly and make them repeat the correct utterance.
If a child uses their first language when they are expected to respond in their second language, parents must correct them consistently.
There is a need to emphasize consistency. When parents start this journey, they are consistent, but their motivation is deterred, and they accept their children’s responses. In such cases, language development is delayed, and the problems persist.
Creating Exposure
Creating exposure in both languages is critical. However, what is even more important is the balance of exposure. If a child is exposed significantly to their first language, parents can choose to talk mainly in the second language, especially when their school starts.
However, in cases where there is not much external exposure to both languages, parents can divide the time for both languages and guarantee a balanced exposure. For example, when the child is a toddler, they can converse with him in both languages.
This exposure can come in varied forms. Parents can choose to do so through supplementary material like songs, videos, and movies in the second language or through literature book reading at night. The exposure must be mostly through fun activities. The process does not have to be boring because it will make the children lose interest.
Using an Appropriate Approach
Using a correct approach is also essential. However, to think that your favorite approach will derive the best results is only sometimes the case. All the approaches for bilingualism can cater to the audience with different family arrangements.
To come up with the best approach, there is a need to develop a plan that aids in learning the language naturally. It should also target the places, people, and methods through which the language acquisition will take place. Remember, not all methods will give you the same results.
For example, one person and one language will only work for the parents who are equally available to their child and have good proficiency in the languages they use. On the other hand, the time and place method works only for parents who can target different contexts and places at various points. Otherwise, the child will learn to use and understand the language in very limited contexts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Let us address some of the frequently asked queries of parents of bilingual children in the section below.
Can Children Understand How Languages Differ?
It is a common misconception to think that children cannot differentiate between different languages. Children’s occasional language mixing does not mean that they are unable to determine languages. They usually know when to use a language and which grammar rules belong to which language.
Is Language Mixing Problematic?
Language mixing is a challenge that has to be tackled. In cases where language mixing is used to fill the gaps in the linguistic knowledge of the second language, a correction needs to be done. Though not as worrisome and problematic as it may seem, correction and reiteration need to be used so children can learn new words to fill the gaps and not need to rely on their first language.
Can Bilingual Children Impact Their Younger Bilingual Siblings?
Older bilingual siblings play a crucial factor in creating a harmonious language learning environment. Siblings can, in fact, impact language acquisition through the use of their dominant language. In order to counter the younger child developing the same preference, parents need to diminish the imbalance by using the non-preferred language with their young one.
Can Bilingualism Affect Speech Development?
Parents tend to confuse language delay with speech development. Bilingual children develop their languages at the same rate as monolingual children. However, at times, bilingual children end up facing a learning delay during which they may avoid speaking the language. For handling such cases, parents have to be consistent in using the second language with their children right from the time when they are toddlers.
