Identity is something that many if not most all of us wrestle with whilst growing up. However, like most minorities, this is perhaps even more so for many mixed roots, multicultural and third culture kids; from dealing with being treated differently by others and searching for groups to identify with, and feel a…
Tag: mixed families
Mixed marriage
The World Cup Guide for Mixed Families
The 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia was amazing. Germany, who won in 2014 passed the Cup over to their European neighbors France the day after Bastille Day. What a celebratory weekend it was for France and friends. What if the national team of your country and your spouse’s country are playing against each…
Language Education
What to do when bilingual kids mix languages
What to do when bilingual kids mix languages (code-switching, a.k.a. code-mixing) • Don’t worry if your child mixes languages—language mixing is a common (and typically short-lived) phase of bilingual development. • Trust your child is not confused—she may not know (or be able to explain) that she’s using two languages, but there’s plenty…
Language Education
Language learning process of children
Language learning process of children Birth: Early crying, babies’ attempt to communicate 5 months: Cooing, making sounds like ga-ga, gu-gu 1st birthday: a few words like doggie, milk, dada 18 months~24 months: 2-word phrases such as eat now or baby cry 2 years~: Acquisition of about 200 new words a month 2.5 years:…
Language Education
Do Baby Signs Programs (Sign Language) Make Smarter Babies?
Baby Sign language does NOT make babies smarter Do Baby Signs Programs (Sing Language) Make Smarter Babies? (p.51) To investigate the question of whether baby signs programs help children acquire language earlier or advance their cognitive development, in 2003 researchers J. C. Johnston and colleagues examined seventeen recent studies of baby signing. Johnston…
Language Acquisition
How to Teach Toddlers and Infants a Language
Creating Good Language Learning Environments for Very Young Children (Ages 0–2) (p. 63) • Direct lots of rich, meaningful speech toward your child from birth. • Encourage friends, relatives, babysitters, siblings, and other visitors to speak and play with your child in the second language. • Engage in interactions that pique your child’s interests—for…
Bilingualism
What to do when children reject to speak in the 2nd language
What to do when children reject to speak in the 2nd language (e.g. Spanish) Cases that worked (from Bilingual Edge p. 244-245) “• Anna (mother of Javier, age five): “We’ve had the most success using reverse psychology. Javier is super strong-willed and it’s actually helped at times to say to him something like…
Language Education
Top Ten Reasons Why Speaking Two Languages Is so Cool
Top Ten Reasons Why Speaking Two Languages Is Cool 10. I can have private conversations in my second language. 9. When I told (friend, teacher, neighbor) that I speak two languages, s/he was thrilled/very impressed. 8. I can meet more people from around the world (list of potential places where your child can…
Bilingualism
Types of bilingual education
TYPES OF BILINGUAL EDUCATION “Maintenance bilingual education: These programs are to help children become both and biliterate. In the United States, students in such programs typically speak a language other than English at home. Transitional bilingual education: These programs aim to help children transition from their native language for example, Spanish, Cambodian, Portuguese,…
Language Acquisition
How to Create a Good Language Learning Environments
How to Create a Good Language Learning Environments for Preschoolers • Have fun integrating the language as a part of your daily routines. For example, sing morning songs in the language, play alphabet, and counting games, guessing games, and have a word of the day. • Read stories to your child in the…