March 11, 2009

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), most experts agree that a child who is exposed simultaneously to two languages at an early age will naturally learn to use both languages.  However, the ASHA suggests that you keep the following possible outcomes of development in mind if your child is exposed to different languages at home on a regular basis:

• Your child can be expected to go through some periods of mixing the two languages and borrowing vocabulary to express ideas, sometimes within the same sentence.  These periods occur because vocabulary may exist in one language but not in the other, or words from one language may convey a message that is not easily translated into the other language.  A separation of the two languages will occur gradually.
• Your child may also experiment with the two languages to create special effects or to express himself or herself in specific settings.  For example, one language may be identified as less formal and used for information about events related to home and family.  The other language may be identified as more formal and used for activities outside the home.  Other periods when one language is used more than the other may occur.  The opposite occurs with a change in the environment.
• Your child may not be equally skilled in both languages.  It is common for greater understanding to exist than actual use of one language.  Less confusion will occur if your child learns to associate the two languages differently – for example, if one language is used while speaking to the mother and the other while speaking to the father.

Even with constant exposure, learning a second language can be very difficult.  It requires patience and continued study even into adolescence.  You can help keep your older child on track by sharing the following foreign language study tips provided by the University of Texas at Austin:

• Study every day.  Language learning is cumulative – your child cannot put it off until the weekend.  Focus on a different task each day.
• Encourage a good attitude.  Have your child set personal goals for learning.  Tell him or her to leave perfectionism at the door and that it is OK to make mistakes. Make sure your child learns from his or her mistakes.
• Make sure your child gets help if he or she needs it.  Work with your child on a regular basis.  Encourage study groups among friends, or hire a tutor for him or her.