EDUCATION
collecting a child after school, however, English can be spoken around other chil- dren where the common language is English, but revert to the home language once the home language speakers are to- gether again.
Take your child back to your home country as often as possible
Children will speak a language when there is a need to do so – as long as they have aural fluency (i.e., they can understand), they will be able to speak at any point when they need to. Spending time with family, watching television and shopping all provide positive venues for acquiring and using languages.
Have books, movies, magazines and games in your home language at home.
Sing the songs you knew as a child. Read regularly to your child in your language. All of these activities enforce a positive cultural approach to the home culture and language.
Be proud of your language – your child will share in this.
One family achieved the goal of having fun and sharing the home language through playing a game which was only played in that language. Another read a se- ries of books to their children. Whatever reinforces a sense of enjoyment in the lan- guage helps the child learn.
Be patient. It takes time.
Tere are few guidelines for bringing up bilinguals, but there are also a few pitfalls to be avoided as your child begins to learn English.
Don’t force your child to respond to you in English.
One parent, so eager that his child learn English, quizzed him with flashcards at night, insisting on the rote memorisation of vocabulary. Good English language teaching will expand understanding and vocabulary in context, as opposed to the random memorisation of words.
Susan Stewart is Head of Languages, International School of London, Surrey campus.
Don’t force your child do hours of language lessons after school.
It is exhausting to learn a new language – cognitively and physically. Children need ‘down’ time to participate in after-school sports or activities and make new friends. Tis actually helps a child gain social use of language much more quickly and effec- tively.
And, finally, don’t worry.
Children will learn. And whilst it may seem difficult to the parents who may not have grown up multilingual, to your child, it is the norm.
Helping you navigate the UK legal system
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