Page 3 - Bilingual Kids.pdf
P. 3

Of course, it was easier for the                             language, in fun and interesting
     children to learn English because they                       ways, will help immensely.
   hear it all around them. But as it is                        Perseverance should pay off. The key is

   common for children to neglect the                           for parents to continue to speak their
   minority language, Rupal and Archna                          native language even if the child's
   made an extra effort to expose them to                        response is not always enthusiastic.

   Indians.
                                                                As with all aspects of parenting and
   “We have Indian satellite TV, DVDs and                       teaching your child new skills, introducing

   videos; we call friends and relatives in                     bilingualism is not necessarily going to be
   India; we visit India, and so on,” he                        easy. You have to be consistent and
   explains. “So we have Indian friends,                        repetitive, just like with one language.
   there are Indian Restaurants and Sunday                      And, just like with one language, you will

   school for two hours in the temple.”                         go through a number of years with no, or
                                                                very little, feedback. It can at times be
   Bilingual challenges and how to                              very strange to have children who speak a

   overcome them                                                language he doesn't know.


   Raising bilingual children has its                           But for Archna any 'issues' are far
   challenges, which will vary from child to                    outweighed by the benefits: “When they
   child, and family to family. According to                    do start talking [the minority language] it's

   Archna, rejection of the home or minority                    wonderful, and knowing that they've had
   language is one of the most common                           less input from external factors gives you
   problems.                                                    even greater satisfaction.”


   “Children quickly understand which
   language holds a higher status in the
   community, which language is spoken by

   the majority, and which language is more
   effective in their everyday lives,” she says.


   In this case, Archna says, parents need to
   show children the importance of the
   second language, which can be done by

   surrounding them with friends, relatives,
   and other children who speak the same                        Tips for raising bilingual children:
       language. Increased exposure to the






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