Bilingualism
In an increasing global world more parents are raising bilingual children than ever. But how does being bilingual affect language development? There is a growing body of evidence to support positive outcomes for individuals who are bilingual across many aspects of brain development. Here are the fast facts for those who are working with bilingual children or considering raising bilingual babies.
The Benefits of Bilingualism:
• Strengthens cognitive abilities in children including: using logic, developing strong thinking skills, making decisions, understanding math concepts, and thinking about other languages Bilingual children are better able to focus attention on relevant information and ignore distractions
• Bilingual children have been shown to have higher levels of creativity and problem solving skills
• The effects of aging are diminished on bilingual brains
• Increased access to opportunities, employment, people & resources
Learning Two Language Does Not Cause Language Disorders:
• All Children are able to learn two languages at once
• Infants are innately able to distinguish between languages
• Common aspects of typical bilingual development - code switching, interference, silent period & language loss can lead to this misconception
• If a child has a true language disorder, characteristics of the disorder will be seen in both languages
• There is no evidence to support that "choosing" a language to focus on will improve language development/treatment outcomes
Learning Two Languages Takes Longer Than One:
• It is normal for children learning two languages to be slower in their development of each language compared to monolingual development
• May be slightly behind in each language in terms of vocabulary and grammatical development but are similar to peers in phonological and narrative skill development
• It can takes children time to catch up to monolingual development in each language
Bilingual Children May Have Different Strengths in Each Language:
• Bilingual children will have varied and individual experiences in each language which may produce varying patterns of proficiencies in each language
• Consider context, speakers & models, environment, and vocabulary used in each language through the child's typical daily/weekly routine
• It is normal for bilingual speakers to have varying levels of proficiency between languages
• This proficiency may change with age, circumstances, community, education & many other factors
Communication In Native Language Promotes Language Growth:
• Quality of language models parents use is important in development & using lower quality models of a second language takes away the opportunity for rich language models
• There is no evidence that frequent use of the second language in the home is essential for development of the second language
• Also deprives children of exposure to culture, heritage, connection with family and community, and cultural social communication skills
• Benefits of Bilingualism outweigh any perceived “ease” of transitioning to using only English
Bilingualism Looks Different in Every Home
• And that is beautiful!
• Each child will vary in the balance and exposure to each language, the amount and variety of speakers, the context and settings the child is exposed to and how family/community structure plays a role in development
• Use the method of bilingualism that allows them to feel most comfortable and practical to your family
Language development is varied and complex regardless of how many languages a child is taking in. If you have any concerns about your child's development, a Speech Language Pathologist can help determine what is typical in development and provide support for your child's communication skills.
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2012). Bilingual Service Delivery. ASHA Practice Portal. Retrieved from: https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935225§ion=Key_Issues
American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. (2015). Collaborating with Interpreters. ASHA Practice Portal. Retrieved from: https://www.asha.org/PRPSpecificTopic.aspx?folderid=8589935334§ion=Overview
Canadian Council on Learning (2008). Parlez-vous français? The advantages of bilingualism in Canada. Available online: http://www.ccl-cca.ca/pdfs/LessonsInLearning/Oct-16-08-The-advantages-of- bilingualism.pdf
Genesee, F. (2015). Myths about early childhood bilingualism. Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne, 56(1), 6-15
Hoff, E. & Core, C. (2015). What clinicians need to know about bilingual development. Seminars in Speech Language Pathology, 36(2), 89-99.
Paradis, J., Genesee, F., & Crago, M. (2011). Dual Language Development and Disorders: A handbook on bilingualism & second language learning. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes Publishing.
Poulin-Dubois, D., Blaye, A., Coutya, J & Bialystok, E. (2011). The effects of bilingualism on toddlers' executive functioning. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology. 108(3), 567-579