Children who know two languages are BILINGUAL children
As a group they are:
- more creative and flexible in their thinking
- more aware of how languages work
- more sensitive to subtleties in communication
- better at perceiving and analysing visual patterns
This makes bilingual pupils:
- better at learning more languages
- have positive self esteem and be secure
- more tolerant of linguistic/cultural/ethnic differences
- able to communicate with a wide variety of people
- more employable
Truly bilingual people can read and write in two languages. These students do well at school and college, often better than children who speak, read and write only one language.
It is important that you expose your children to the written pattern of your own language and encourage them to learn how to read and write in the language they can understand and speak.
PARENTS AND CARETAKERS
- TALK in your first language
- LISTEN to your children speaking in your first language
- READ with your children in your first language
- SHOW your children the written pattern of your first language
- ENCOURAGE your children to read and write in their first language
- READ books together
- WRITE to friends and relatives