How to raise a bilingual child?

There are more than seven thousand languages in the world. There are also more bilingual people rather than monolinguals. There are countries where bilingualism is the norm of life. For example, in India, children learn two or three of the 23 national languages at once.

In Russia, many parents have one question in mind now: "how do we raise a bilingual child"? The Russian market has become a priority for companies that select English nannies. For example, the international Agency English Nanny has opened offices not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg but also in other cities, because there is a stable demand for the service among high net worth families.

Fluency in or use of two languages is called bilingualism. And bilinguals are those who are fluent in both languages at the same time and are able to switch from one language to another. Natural bilinguals appear when living in different linguistic environments, and artificial bilinguals appear when they start learning a foreign language from an early age. Bilingualism has a positive effect on memory, the ability to understand and analyze speech, intelligence, quick reactions, mathematical skills and logic.

Previously, bilingual children were considered to develop more slowly, but new research has shown that the additional work that the brain constantly does to switch between languages also stimulates other mental activity. For example, it improves concentration, memory, and the ability to multitask. Bilingual children develop empathy and creative thinking from an early age. Learning foreign languages since childhood gives the brain many advantages, including stable brain functioning in old age.

Become a citizen of the world, speak English, French, and maybe Chinese and Turkish fluently. In our global world, most parents understand that it will be useful for their children.

Foreign language for children

But how can all this fit into a child's head and is it possible to develop languages on an equal basis? Is it worth teaching children several languages at once and how to work correctly with bilingual children? All people have the opportunity to learn a foreign language. But you need to understand that in order to learn it well, you need to start as early as possible. According to the available statistics only 4% of people have linguistic abilities. Such a person, even if they start studying at the age of 80, will be successful. But unfortunately, the remaining 96% do not have such abilities.

However, absolutely all people from birth have a so-called speech matrix. Its main task is to learn the language as a form of communication. The task of the matrix is to help a person master speech from birth to the age of five. It is easy for a toddler to learn not only one, but also two, three, and even four languages at the same time. The speech matrix tells the child when to listen carefully, how to repeat the intonation and copy the pronunciation.

Children under the age of five are rapidly developing linguistic skills. They absorb everything they hear and can learn to understand any new words at an incredibly fast pace. Young children learn fast in the context of everything that happens around them. For them, it is as natural as breathing, so it is easy. At the age of five the speech matrix becomes almost insensitive. That's it, baby, you've learned to talk! Most teenagers and adults can only learn a foreign language by memorizing words and formal elements. Their linguistic capabilities are limited, and in many cases, poor pronunciation and accent are almost unavoidable and difficult to get rid of.

This form of training is offered by the school. Up to the age of 10-12 years, grammar (syntax and rules) is hard for children. Only with the advent of abstract thinking does a conscious understanding of the laws of grammar comparatively increase the possibilities of the student.

Parents often take pride in the fact that the child knows English words, not paying attention to whether they can use them. Different parts of the brain are responsible for the knowledge of vocabulary, the ability to hear and understand the speech addressed to you, to reproduce phrases and sentences. Learning a foreign language should take place without translation, in context, and always with a person who is fluent in it. Only while the speech matrix is working, the baby will learn a foreign language as if it was their native.

And that is when parents should try to find a cool teacher, fun, interesting and responsible, someone who knows the language from birth.

It would seem that young children have not yet mastered Russian, but their parents have firmly decided that it is time to take up English, and very thoroughly. They are sure that two hours of classes a week is not an effective method, so they decide to start working with an agency that is specialized in the selection of English nannies.

According to Valentin Grogol, director of the Russian and Ukrainian offices of the international company English Nanny, which for thirty years has been recruiting highly qualified nannies and governesses from the UK and France to work in families around the world, it is necessary to start language classes "the earlier the better. The specialist should start working with the child before the age of one. In this case, by the age of three your child will speak correctly and without an accent. Recently, more and more English Nanny clients are considering learning several languages. A nanny from England works with the child until the age of three, then a French governess joins her, and by the age of 4-5 a native speaker of another language is added. It is worth noting that Chinese is particularly popular today. By school age, many children easily master four foreign languages.

Recently, more and more English Nanny clients are considering learning several languages. A nanny from England works with the child until the age of three, then a French governess joins her, and by the age of 4-5 a native speaker of another language is added. It is worth noting that Chinese is particularly popular today. By school age, many children easily master four foreign languages.

You can raise a bilingual child without them having to cram and sit through boring lessons. Only in this case, the foreign language will become native. Children do not learn the language, they live it, play, walk, explore the world around them. But it is difficult for Russian-speaking parents to create the right speech environment at home. That is why it makes sense to ask for help from professionals, certified nannies and governesses from England and France.

Some parents are often afraid of the negative impact of bilingualism on the child's development. These concerns are not reasonable, and the possible difficulties are leveled by a professional approach.

• Fear of mixing languages.

Many parents are afraid that children will confuse or mix languages. If you are not inclined to use any foreign elements in your speech, your children will follow suit and will speak correctly. Children mix different vocabulary only if adults do it. They easily get used to the fact that there are different ways to describe the environment, and use words within these linguistic systems. Remember, children want to be understood. Therefore, if the monolingual child does not know the word, it is likely that he will use some long descriptive ways or invent a new word from existing ones. Bilingual children have the most beautiful tool - foreign vocabulary, and they will use it.

• Fear of lost time or missed opportunities.

Is it too early to teach a foreign language to such a baby, or are we too late? Up to the age of five, children learn any language as their native, provided that they hear it at least 30% of their time and their speech activity is constantly stimulated. After the age of five, any new language becomes a foreign language for them. If you want your child to learn English or French as a second native language, start teaching it from birth. If your child is already five years old, remember that it is never too late to start.

• I don't speak the language fluently.

You will learn and progress with your children. Some parents have significantly improved their level of foreign language proficiency by regularly communicating with their children. The main approach is immersion, when someone in the family speaks a foreign language. It's easy to start talking to an English nanny. Children do not memorize new words, they actively use them in the communication process. As they begin to communicate in their native language, they will also speak in the second and subsequent languages.

So, a second language can and should be taught from birth. Perhaps your child's first words will be in a foreign language, and in the future, they will use it to express their thoughts and feelings. With an English or French nanny, a foreign language will become a part of your family's life.