What is bilingualism?
Bilingualism means being able to conduct aspects of everyday life in 2 languages. The current advice is to start as early as possible, ideally as soon as the child is born.
TOP TIPS!
Encourage language development in the home with your baby/child by:
- Asking interesting questions
- Asking them to tell a story rather than listening
- Sing nursery rhymes and songs together
- Use role play
- Make sure adult-child conversations are child-oriented
- Give plenty of praise for encouragement
DID YOU KNOW?……..
that babies and young children are able to ‘catch’ a second language due to the fact that:
- they are more interested in getting their message across and in getting answers than worrying about language mistakes
- they are able to pick up correct pronounciation quickly by learning the distinct sounds of 2 languages, something that adults find difficult to do.
- there will be transfer in thinking from one language to another, i.e. if a child is taught mathematical multiplication and division in one language those skills do not have to be retaught in the second language.
FINALLY!
- Learning Welsh will not interfere with the development of English
- The effects of being bilingual are positive in terms of language development as a whole, including the first language.
- When learning two languages at the same time the child becomes more aware of language itself, having two or more words for each object, idea or concept will expand rather than contract the mind.