| Are you raising a child with more than one | | | | children. This requires the child to spend time in |
| language? Congratulations! You are giving your | | | | that language on a regular basis and you can |
| child a gift for life! But you will have probably | | | | imagine the organisation it requires on the part of |
| come across a lot of questions and challenges as | | | | the parents, so the effort is very high. Such a |
| well. I bet, you will have been confronted with at | | | | commitment to languages naturally requires |
| least one or more of the below myths! Did you | | | | trade-offs in other areas of life (e.g. sports, arts, |
| know it was a myth? Let's explore and then bust | | | | school work etc) which most families I met are |
| them. | | | | not willing to make. In a nutshell, you can bring |
| As soon as you start to talk about raising bilingual | | | | your child up with many languages but you need |
| children, you will find that everyone around you | | | | to commit to the effort it takes to keep them up |
| has a (different) opinion on it. Over time many of | | | | over a long period of time. |
| these opinions and half-truths have developed into | | | | Myth #3: Learn one language properly first. |
| myths which are stubbornly kicking around | | | | The earlier you expose your child to all the |
| confusing and upsetting motivated parents time | | | | languages you want him/her to grow up with, the |
| and time again. Knowing what's true and what's | | | | better. There are many advantages to early |
| false about raising bilingual children is vital to | | | | exposure and I will talk about it in detail in Step 3. |
| prepare you for any unfounded comments | | | | So waiting until your child speaks the first |
| well-meaning friends and family members will pass. | | | | language "properly", just wastes time and makes |
| Instead of letting those comments make you | | | | it harder for him/her. And what's more, I bet you |
| doubtful about your efforts and let you get off | | | | wouldn't be able to tell me when "properly" has |
| course, you will be able to confidently ignore them | | | | been achieved anyway. How many words, |
| or even educate them. | | | | grammar rules are equal to "properly"? |
| Answer the below questions to see what you | | | | Myth #4: Your child will only mix languages |
| currently believe to be true about bilingual children. | | | | Indeed, you can expect your child to temporarily |
| Just circle the number that most reflects how | | | | mix languages up to the age of 4, using the |
| much you agree with each of these statements | | | | vocabulary that is most easily available. This is |
| (1 = don't agree at all, 5 = totally agree) When | | | | perfectly normal and nothing to worry about - as |
| you raise your child with more than one language. | | | | long as YOU don't mix languages. You are your |
| 1. you must keep it to two languages or it will not | | | | child's role model and you need to provide good |
| work ( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ) | | | | language input. Have you heard about "garbage in |
| 2. you will only confuse him/her( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ) | | | | - garbage out", the same applies here. Assuming |
| 3. your child's brain can get confused ( 1 - 2 - 3 - | | | | you don't mix languages and your toddler does, |
| 4 - 5 ) | | | | you can help your child and provide the right |
| 4. make sure he/she learns one language properly | | | | word(s) by repeating the sentence, e.g. in form of |
| first ( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ) | | | | a question using the same correct vocabulary |
| 5. you don't need to do much; he/she will pick it | | | | your child was using - more about this technique |
| up in no time ( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 ) | | | | later. |
| 6. your child will always mix languages ( 1 - 2 - 3 - | | | | Myth #5: You don't need to do anything; your |
| 4 - 5 ) | | | | child will pick the language up in no time. |
| 7. your child will do worse in school ( 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 | | | | While it is true that kids generally pick up |
| - 5 ) | | | | languages fast, successful bilingualism doesn't just |
| Myth #1: You only confuse your child. | | | | happen. You probably wouldn't have started |
| Research has proven that your child will in no way | | | | reading this book if you believed otherwise. There |
| be confused by growing up with several languages | | | | are circumstances which facilitate your children's |
| per se. Our brain is able to handle many languages | | | | bilingualism more than others and in the right |
| and stores them in different places. While | | | | environment it might feel like you aren't doing |
| languages heard consistently in the first year are | | | | anything to contribute to your children's language |
| stored in a pre-designed area in the left | | | | journey. To understand those circumstances you |
| hemisphere of the brain, all later languages are | | | | will still at least need to inform yourself (by |
| stored in the right hemisphere. | | | | reading Step 2 of this book). Doing nothing leaves |
| Having said that, it is absolutely possible that YOU | | | | your children's bilingualism up to chance. |
| confuse your child by changing languages and | | | | Myth #6: Stop bilingualism if your pediatrician tells |
| language strategies (see Step 7) or by mixing | | | | you to. |
| languages. With the right knowledge and a | | | | Sometimes families have stopped raising their |
| consistent strategy you never need to worry | | | | children with more than one language because |
| about confusing your child. | | | | their pediatrician told them it would be better for |
| Myth #2: "More than 2 languages" does not work. | | | | their child's speech development, stuttering |
| When you consider that we only ever use 5% of | | | | problem, dyslexia etc. Most developmental issues |
| our brain, you immediately realise that our brain | | | | are NOT related to bilingualism, numerous studies |
| has ample space and capacity for language | | | | have proven the point. So, before you drop a |
| learning. While bilingual children are the most | | | | language, ask a specialist and get a second opinion. |
| common, research has proven up to 4 languages | | | | Myth #7: Bilingual children do worse in school. |
| to work without any problem. 4 languages | | | | Browsing through the research studies that have |
| typically occur in a family with parents with | | | | been done on the topic you will find that they |
| different native languages, an environment | | | | either conclude that bilingual children do just as well |
| country that provides a third and a school that | | | | as monolinguals or in fact, they show that |
| provides a fourth languages. Among my parent | | | | bilinguals are doing better in school. Don't let |
| network members I have parents who are | | | | anyone tell you otherwise unless they have data |
| successfully managing 6 languages for their | | | | to prove it. |