Small things I wish my dual and Spanish immersion parents would know 

By:  Daniela Pérez

Raising a bilingual child is the best way to go in our globalized world.  Every parent hopes to give their child more opportunities and provide them with skills necessary to life.  Learning a new language is one of the best tools to give to our kids if it’s done right.

Analyzed your why

Every parent wants to boast or show off  their child’s second language skills, after all learning a new language is not easy and kids work really hard to accomplish the goal.  However, besides that, what are your intentions for your child to learn a new language?  Understanding your why as a family will help you provide your kids with the support they need to accomplish the goal and also for your child to know why they are learning this new language.  There is nothing more discouraging for an educator than to hear from a student “I’m in this school because my parents put me here”.   Take time to know your “why” and share it with your child.

Here, I share my “why” for kids learning languages.

Start early and be consistent

Hopefully you may start something at home during your child’s early years with songs, apps programs, preschool classes in the target language or bilingual program, or maybe grandparents and family members speaking the language to kids.  Starting early will provide your child with more success acquiring the language.  It will also give them a native like accent.  If kindergarten is the only opportunity to introduce your child to learning a new language, that is okay too.

Learning a language  is a long process and you need to help your child to be consistent and stick with the program chosen for them.  Life will happen and you may have to move towns, cities or countries.  However, if possible, try to find something similar for your child to keep learning the language.  Language acquisition takes time, this is an investment for the long run. 

Consistency also applies to sending your child to school.  Missing too much school will have an impact on their learning and time practicing the language.  Don’t expect to have a bilingual child if the child is not present to learn. 

Understand the methodology used at school

There are many models of schools teaching languages.  The most common are dual or immersion schools.  Understanding the differences between the models and deciding on what would benefit your child is very important.  Get the school’s information and ask questions, you are your child’s advocate.  Remember that learning a second language is an investment so treat it like one.  

Also be upfront and analyze how much time you have to invest in this program helping your child outside of school with homework or during the Summer months where they are not being taught the language.  Be creative finding Summer camps, language classes, book clubs or have books in Spanish at home so kids keep learning.  Sadly Summer slide is a real thing, and even worse when it comes to a second language. 

Be there to support your child

Learning a new language takes a village.  Make sure you are communicating with your child’s teachers to know how to help at home.  Just sending your child to school to learn the language will not do much.  Kids need to continue the learning at home with interactive activities, reading, playdates in your home language as well as the target language.

When you decide to put your child in a dual or Spanish immersion school, you are the one in charge of creating opportunities for your kids to practice the language outside of school.  It’s in your best interest so your kids can be fluent in the language.  Have resources in the target language, have specific times for kids to watch TV or read in the target language.  Only sending your child to school to learn a second language will not do the trick.  Raising a child is hard work.  Now, raising bilingual children is double the work and takes parents’ involvement in the process to support a biliterate and bilingual global citizen.