Raising a bilingual child

Luxembourg is proud of its multilingualism, and the incredible diversity of Luxembourgish society means that almost every family has a multilingual story to tell. Children who pass through the national education system in its entirety emerge at least as trilingual. For families who are focusing their energies on bilingualism rather than multilingualism, the two-language approach can be a little different.

What is bilingualism?

The term bilingual denotes a person who regularly uses two languages in their everyday life. According to PEaCH, an EU funded project created to support the parents and educators of bilingual children, bilingualism comes in all shapes and sizes.

Paths to bilingualism

Simultaneous bilinguals are exposed to each language in a roughly equal amount, before the age of three years old. These children are likely to live with two parents who speak two different languages.

Children who are exposed to a second language from the age of three or above are considered sequential bilinguals. This might be the case for children who speak one majority language at home, then go to school in a different language.

Benefits of being bilingual

Bilingualism can be extremely rewarding in terms of life experiences, travel, and work opportunities and even health.

Bilingual children automatically have access to two languages, which in turn exposes them to two cultures. Children with a deeper awareness of different traditions and customs may develop a heightened sense of curiosity, tolerance, and empathy–creating a more open-minded individual.

For some bilingual children, it is relatively easy to pick up further languages, as they possess a solid foundation for language learning. Bi- or multilingualism is an attractive prospect for future employers – especially in a country such as Luxembourg – so improving your child's future competitiveness in the workplace could be a huge benefit.

The brain is a weird and wonderful thing, and research indicates that bilingualism gives that grey matter a huge boost and improves cognitive function. Fast reaction times, the ability to multitask, and improved memory are all signs of a bilingual brain. Bilingual children are likely to be able to concentrate well and filter out unnecessary information in a busy or noisy setting. Amazingly, bilingualism can even help delay the onset of dementia.

A few facts

A bilingual does not have to be fluent in both languages. Depending on the circumstances, a bilingual child may progress more quickly in one language than the other. For the first few years, it is common for a bilingual to understand and respond to both languages but only speak in one.

A bilingual child is not the same as a monolingual child. Children may have to work hard on areas such as vocabulary or reading, because they have not been exposed to the richness of language in a specific context. However, a bilingual child's total vocabulary in both languages is often equivalent to the total vocabulary of a monolingual child.

Bilingualism does not cause language delay. A bilingual may experience language delay just like any other child. However, research has shown that the root cause of any such delay is not the bilingualism itself. In Luxembourg, if a child is experiencing language delay, advice may be found at the national Centre for the Development of Language, Hearing, and Communication Skills in Strassen.

Parental strategies

Depending on a family's unique set of circumstances, one language usually ends up being the 'majority' language, and the other is referred to as the 'minority' language.

To find a balance between the two languages, it is important for parents and caregivers to develop a strategy which works for them. There are several options, such as:

• One person, one language (OPOL): Parent A speaks language A to the child and Parent B speaks language B. According to research, this is one of the most common strategies.

• Minority language at home (ML@H): In this context, the minority language is that which is less widely used outside the home. Both parents speak the minority language at home (even if it is not their native language).

• Time and place (T&P): Parents make a conscious choice to use a particular language at a particular time. For example, German storytelling at bedtime; Luxembourgish Saturdays; or playing board games in Spanish.

• Mixed Language Policy (MLP): This approach is based on what feels right to family members at a given time. Parents and children speak freely, switching from one language to another, without favouring a particular one. Arguably easier to follow with older children who are already confident in their language skills.

Whichever strategy you choose to adopt, bilingualism offers unique opportunities and experiences from childhood through to adulthood. It is a gift that your child will appreciate and value for their whole life.

Websites and further reading

There is a wealth of general information on the Bilingual Matters website, where you will find archived resources and further reading. For Luxembourg-based families, you'll find news, events and initiatives on the webpage for the dedicated Luxembourg branch of Bilingual Matters, which is hosted by the Faculty of Humanities, Education, and Social Sciences at the University of Luxembourg.

Visit the PEaCH website to download their comprehensive guide for parents, 'How to raise a bilingual child', which includes information, resources and practical advice.

And find out how these local families are succeeding in raising bilingual children in Luxembourg.