Teaching English to Children in a Multilingual Home

The United States is one of the most monolingual countries on the planet, with around 75 percent of Americans speaking no other language besides English. However, that’s not to say other languages aren’t represented in the US. In fact, Spanish speakers account for more than 13.5 percent of the overall population, with many of these individuals using it as their primary language in the home.

There are many benefits of being raised in a bilingual home. However, children growing up in households with non-native English speakers as parents can face considerable challenges in the classroom and beyond. Thankfully, there are many things parents can do to help promote language learning in the home, from using visual aids and creative exercises to introducing youngsters to online English classes with native speakers.

Promoting English Language Learning in the Home

In the United States, it’s estimated that around 22 percent of school-age children speak little or no English in the home. Limited English interaction is likely to contribute to delayed development of bilingual fluency, leading to difficulty in making social connections and being able to thrive in the classroom. Parents with an imperfect grasp of English can find it challenging to promote language learning in the home, but it’s by no means impossible.

Non-native speakers tend to find it useful to use visual aids when encouraging language skills development. This applies to both a parent with a limited grasp of English and young children who may find it useful to engage with visual concepts. Many learning manuals will include visual aids, but you can also choose to print your own.

Adopting a simple approach to language learning at home will benefit parents and children alike. Adults who are non-native English speakers shouldn’t get too caught up in grammar rules and complex sentence structures. Even children raised in homes where English is used as a native language are unlikely to engage with this type of learning until they reach the classroom. Keeping things basic ensures you’re giving your children a solid foundation they can build upon at a later date.

The Key Components of Language Learning

There are four key areas to focus on when promoting language learning at home. These include speaking, listening, writing and reading. Children should be introduced to all of these before they can start developing any real proficiency with English. Thankfully, there are plenty of resources you can utilize to encourage good progress. Reading is one of the easiest things to engage with. Pick out some child-friendly reading material and establish a routine to improve literacy levels. This can be as simple as setting aside some time every night for a bedtime story. However, it’s important that a child has engaged with the text. Once you’ve finished a chapter, set the book aside and ask your child to summarize what you’ve just read together. This will also encourage good verbal skills. Slightly older children should also be encouraged to write down their impressions of what they have read if you want to foster strong writing ability. Ultimately however, consistent use of English is the only way to promote language proficiency in a bilingual home.