Whether you are a parent or teacher there are many things you can do to help children.
- Children commonly learning an additional language often go through a silent or quiet period where they may say little or nothing in their new environment. This is a normal process and should not be confused with a selectively mute child.
If this is the case give the child
- Extra time to respond
- Time to become familiar with the language
- Time to learn new routines
- Encouragement to join in activities, to be able to watch and actively listen
- Opportunities to respond to and repeat back language, although children should not feel pressurised to speak unless confident to do so.
All
- It is important that the child continues to be exposed to all languages.
- You may be concerned that the child has not heard much English and they may be at a disadvantage if they are starting school. However typically developing children should have no difficulty learning English if they have a strong foundation in their home language.
- Do not be concerned your child is mixing two languages in a sentence, this is normal for children who are bilingual speakers.
- Focus on making sure the child feels successful in giving and receiving messages. Continue speaking in your home language, even if your child speaks back to you in a different language. If your child responds back to you they have understood the message.
- Use short phrases with lots of gesture and facial expression as well as altering the expression in your voice this will help a child understand the meaning of the words.
- Encourage the Child’s attempts to speak in either language, giving lots of praise.
- Model language for the child and extend what they say adding one or two extra words.
- Don’t make a language an issue – don’t punish your child for using a particular language.
- Use nursery rhymes and songs from any language / culture
- Play word association games, for example, name five fruits, transport or pieces of furniture to help extend vocabulary.
Teachers
- Familiarise yourself with the languages and cultures of the children in your class, e.g. ask parents to share a list of 20-30 commonly used words in their home language which can be used in class.
- Children may need some “time out” from English to think their own thoughts, spending a whole day with people speaking a different language will be tiring.
Speech and Language Therapy
- Speech and Language Therapists recognise that bilingualism in a child is an advantage to learning.
- Referrals to the Speech and Language Service should be considered if you have concerns about a child’s communication in their home language or there are difficulties in both languages. You should also refer if there are concerns over their speech sounds in both languages; they are stammering or have voice quality and volume difficulties.
- As with all referrals to Speech & Language Therapy, a hearing test should be considered.
- Strategies recommended by a speech and language therapist can be used both in a home language and a new language.
