Language
How to define it...
When reading to our kids...
Strategies to help our kids...
![Picture](/uploads/2/0/0/7/20079635/1368217037.jpg)
- Other kids: Join (or start) a playgroup for the second language. Children of all ages will learn from each other; there simply are no better language teachers than other kids. An added bonus will be that you will connect with other parents of bilingual children.
- Books: Of course you know how vital those precious one-on-one moments are, but remember that they can be infused with language learning also. Books are the most effective tool for teaching language, and so I advise all parents: "Start reading at birth and never stop!" A good way to add to reading time (and make it really personal) is to create a dialogue, encouraging your child's comments, responses, and elaborations. Talk about what the characters are like and what they might be doing next.
- Sing and dance: Children absolutely love music, but don't rely solely on recorded music; your own singing, even if it is off-key, will still serve to unite melody and words for your child more surely than any professional recording ever could. Melody is also a fantastic memory aid. Think about how much easier children learn their ABCs when they sing them, compared to just reciting them. And, the combination of music with movement and gestures will enliven it all -- as well as provide a nice outlet for squirmy toddlers.
- Tap into their interests: Whatever your child's enthusiasms may be -- whether a love of soccer, dance, or horses -- make an effort to 'involve' these passions in the minoritylanguage. "My 3-year old son is a really big "Bob de Bouwer" (Bob the Builder) fan," says Martijn Fredriks. "So now we always watch it in Dutch, and he's even started speaking in Dutch when he plays with the Bob t he Builder toys."
- Be creative: The trick is to give the child lots to talk about, so draw out that conversation! Encourage them to make up their own stories, play dress-up and pretend in the second language. Even painting, working with sidewalk chalk, or molding clay usually creates more vocabulary than art! Older children may enjoy calling or using a webcam for calls overseas (one such free service is Skype).
- Visits: The ultimate language boost is to visit the country where it is spoken. Total immersion for a couple of weeks has an amazing effect. And visits from friends or family also provide a valuable boost.
- Enthusiasm: While the quantity of spoken language is the most important factor in learning a language, the second most vital ingredient is the amount of positive feedback the child hears. Early on, when a child is struggling to get those first syllables out, resist the urge to correct…it can actually inhibit language skills.
(http://www.omniglot.com/language/articles/bilingualkids5.htm)
Getting Help...
Language Services Associates
455 Business Center Drive #100 Horsham, PA 19044 (215) 259-7000 |
Words for the Eyes, LLC
PO Box 90441 Allentown, PA 18109 610-737-7471 |
Online Resources...
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=552291&mode=2
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/Dual%20Language%20Learners
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/center/home-language.html
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/397/http://www.aplaceofourown.org/index.php
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/Dual%20Language%20Learners
http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/cultural-linguistic/center/home-language.html
http://www.readingrockets.org/article/397/http://www.aplaceofourown.org/index.php