When one language is not used in the community, the only constant source of language practice may be inside the home. In this situation, parents need to consider how to establish a richness of language experience for their children in that particular language. In order for the language of the child to extend beyond food, bedtime, and family chores, it is important to arrange language experiences in a variety of contexts.
New vocabulary needs developing alongside a wider and deeper understanding of the shared meanings of words. Appropriate use of language in different situations, holding a sustained conversation, pronunciation, an awareness of language and a love of language, accuracy of grammatical structure are all enhanced when language frontiers are continuously pushed back. Visits to beaches, banks and bookshops, swimming pool and sports events, carnivals and circuses mean that new experiences stimulate language growth. Meeting different people who can speak the language, allows the experience of different styles of speaking and pronunciation to be absorbed by the child. Obtaining cassette tapes (or parents creating their own tapes of family stories and old traditions), video tapes, books and comics from the home country will give opportunities for extending the child's language experience. Listening to nursery rhymes, songs, jokes and wise sayings in the home language will allow the child's language canvas to be painted with a wider variety of colours.
The examples given above emphasize that richness of language experience must not become ‘homework'. Language practice means pleasurable participation and not deadly drills; inspiration rather than perspiration; a motivating challenge rather than an imposition.