We learned a lot from our last HoneyKids Talk: Raising Bilingual Children. Here are our key takeaways...
In today’s modern and uber globalised world, one of the biggest advantages we can give our kids is bilingualism. The benefits of bilingualism are plentiful. Apart from giving them a treasure trove of words and concepts, they’ll also be able to problem-solve with flair and more. While it might be a tad bit late for us to jump on the bilingual train, it doesn’t mean we can’t give our kids that bilingual edge. But where do we start?
In our latest HoneyKids Talk: Raising Bilingual Children, we got the lowdown from experts Huali Xiong, Principal of Chinese Language and Bilingual Program at CIS, and Zhao-Hui Xu, Director of World Languages at SAS, on all the tips to help our little linguists!
Got a burning question and need the answer? Jump to the section that’s relevant for you!
Speaker introductions – 3.30
What is bilingualism, and why is it important? – 8.13
What are the challenges of bilingual education? – 12.53
What role can parents play? – 19.13
How do we avoid overwhelming learners? – 30.13
Can children learn three languages? – 33.08
What are the challenges to teaching Chinese virtually? – 36.23
Q & A – 44.23
HoneyKids Talks: Raising Bilingual Children
We’ll tackle the common challenges faced by children when learning a language. We’ll give parents tips on how to support their child in language learning, share helpful resources parents can use, and most importantly, share tips on picking the right bilingual program. You’ll be hearing from experts Huali Xiong, Principal of Chinese Language and Bilingual Program at CIS, and Zhao-Hui Xu, Director of World Languages at SAS.
Posted by HoneyKids Asia on Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Raising bilingual children: TOP TIPS FROM THE EXPERTS
1. Start early
When learning a new language, you ideally want to start as early as possible. Little ones have an innate ability to learn a language; just look at how quickly toddlers pick up new words. Also, studies suggest that to reach native-like proficiency, you need to be in an immersion program for at least six years. It’s never too late though – learning through immersion can take place at any age (so there’s still time for you too, mums and dads!)
2. It’s not just about learning a language – it’s building other skills too
Bilingualism is so much more than learning a language. Granted, that’s the end goal, but there’s a whole heap of valuable skills that kids pick up along the way. The process of learning a language builds perseverance, grit and resilience, especially when it comes to Chinese, which is typically a harder language to learn. These skills are all vital for our kids, especially in today’s world.
3. Have realistic expectations
Learning a language doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time before students can go from “learning to read” to “reading to learn”. Although bilingual children might not read or write at the same age level as English learners from the get-go, it will come in time. Research shows that when English and Chinese are split equally from Grade 4 onwards, there is no difference in academic performance. What’s more, some students may even outperform their peers in English. This goes to show that patience is vital for bilingual learning.
4. Encourage and support your child (even if you don’t speak the language!)
A top concern for many of us is how can we help our kids if we can’t even string a sentence together ourselves? Well, parents, don’t fret. It’s actually a lot to do with our attitude above anything else. Parents play a vital role in motivating children when it comes to learning a language. Show pride, encouragement, and even excitement to encourage your little learners. Psst – check out the top tips for parents below for more ways to help!
Raising Bilingual Children: YOUR QUESTIONS, ANSWERED!
1. What’s the benefit of being bilingual?
Communicating in a new language is the most obvious benefit of bilingual education, but it is so much more than that. Kids can understand another culture and think from a whole new perspective. It provides students with two ways of knowing and two ways of understanding. What’s more, research illustrates cognitive benefits such as better memory and executive functioning skills, as well as those all-important skills like resilience, grit, and perseverance.
2. Is there a difference between immersion and a bilingual program?
Bilingual programs can take many forms depending on program duration, language allocation, and the type of education system. The vision and goals of these programs are often similar: focusing on bilingualism, biliteracy, academic achievement and sociocultural competence. Immersion just means that the time taught in the partner language (e.g. Chinese) is much greater than 50%. In contrast, dual language programs often have an equal weighting.
3. How does it work in practice? Do you mix two languages when conversing with the child?
First up, a bit about the theory. In linguistics, code-switching or language alternation occurs when a speaker alternates between two or more languages during a single conversation. This is very common among bilingual speakers. It doesn’t mean they don’t know how to say something in one of the languages; it’s simply that they just want to use the easiest way to communicate.
Code-switching can be seen in a bilingual classroom setting and can motivate students to convey meaning accurately. What’s more, this approach often leads to fewer language barriers when discussing different topics.
4. How do I support my children’s language learning if I don’t speak the language myself?
If you’re keen for your kid to learn Chinese but you get stuck after nĭhǎo, the good news is, there are loads of ways you can support their learning. First and foremost is a positive attitude and showing curiosity. Show that you can appreciate another language or culture (even if you can’t speak it!). You can also help create an enriching and authentic environment. Gaining this through travel might be a bit tricky at the mo, but even looking for exhibits locally, or watching a video in the language together, can help!
Are you keen to learn with your child? Who’s kid doesn’t love telling their parents what to do! Get them to play teacher with you. It’s a great way for them to consolidate learning, and you might learn a thing or two!
5. What about resources? And does it matter if the books children read have Hanyu Pinyin below the characters?
There are lots of brilliant resources you can use at home to support your child’s learning. From apps to books, as well as songs and videos. If you know someone who speaks the language, arranging a meet up for your kids or a play date with a native speaker can be great options too.
And did you know that reading to your child in your native language helps develop their acquisition of a new language? Who knew?!
In terms of Pinyin, this is a great tool to help students read and comprehend texts. Gradually students need to be encouraged to read characters without Pinyin, but first up, celebrate that your kids are reading!
A big thanks again to our two experts Huali Xiong from CIS and Zhao-Hui Xu from SAS….
Huali Xiong, Principal of Chinese Language and Bilingual Program at CIS
Huali Xiong has 38 years of experience in education and teaching languages to a variety of audiences, about 24 of which have been in an international setting. She is a pioneer in the concept of teaching language within an understandable context, a concept that builds language proficiency and understanding. She is the author of the acclaimed Big Apple Chinese reader series which is used in schools around the world.
Huali is frequently invited to be the keynote speaker at language conferences, consults with schools regarding Chinese curriculum development, and is an adjunct lecturer at NTU (National Technological University). Huali holds a Master of Science in international education from the State University of New York.
Zhao-Hui Xu, Director of World Languages at SAS
Prior to moving to Singapore, Xu was the director of Chinese studies and world languages at Hong Kong International School for nine years, Sinarmas and Jakarta World Academies as Chinese principal for two years, and Western Academy of Beijing as K-12 Chinese teacher, IB PYP specialist team leader and head of department for 12 years.
A native of China, Xu earned her master’s degree in Chinese Literature. Xu frequently presents at and organises international conferences, including effective language acquisition strategies, student-centred approaches, and ACTFL proficiency-based curriculum, instruction, and assessment.
For more helpful tips on parenting and anything school or #mumlife-related, stay tuned on our Instagram for the next HoneyKids Talk!