A dual language child is a child who has been learning two language simultaneously from infancy or who are learning a second language after their language has been established.
What is simultaneous bilingualism?
A child who has been learning two languages from birth or before the age of three is a simultaneous bilingual. For example, Sarah has been learning French and English since she was a baby. Sarah is a simultaneous bilingual. The expose to both languages has to be frequent and sustained over many years. This means that the child's language ability is similar in both language.
Is your child a second language learner?
A second language learner is a child who has already made progress in learning one language, and then start to learn another language at school or though a private organization. For example, if Jake's home language is English, and he starts learning Korean at school at the age of seven. Jake is a second language learner because he has already acquired the English language, and is now learning the Korean language.
Does leaning two languages affect your child?
No! It has been seen that in the past, children who have been learning two languages at the same time have had problems in school But because of the research and the embrace of multiculturalism in many school districts learning two languages is very beneficial. Dual language learners children learn the aspects of language at the same rate as monolingual children. This is not the case for Vocabulary. Dual language learners usually have less vocabulary then monolingual children in early schooling years. Children who are exposed to two languages from birth have two separate, but connected linguistic systems. Because these children have two separate linguistic systems, it is common that they might mix their words switching from one language to the next. This is called code-mixing. It is very common and will fade away eventually.
What can you do at home?
- Maintain your home language! There is no reason to pick one language over the other, Use both!
- Read to your child in your home language.
- Encourage your child to learn the language used at school.
- Share your home language with your child's teacher and school. Teacher's and schools are interested in your child and family, the more information you give them the better they can help you.
