Facts about learning a second language

Key points:

1. Children can learn to speak more than one language at the same time, and being bilingual has many advantages such as having a broader vocabulary and better literacy skills.
2. Some children may have a dominant language, which can change over time as they attend school or interact with different communities.
3. Learning two languages does not hinder language development and most language milestones are met at the same time.
4. Bilingual children may mix up grammar rules or use words from both languages in one sentence, but this is a normal part of being bilingual.

Children can learn to speak more than one language at the same time. Being bilingual has many advantages. These include having a broader vocabulary, having better literacy skills, being able to categorize words, being better at problem solving, and even listening to and connecting with others. Speaking two languages is just like learning any other skill. You need practice to master it!

Sometimes children can speak both languages with ease, or they may have one they know better: their dominant language. As time passes, the dominant language can switch. For example, it’s common for kids who speak one language at home to switch to the one they teach at school as their dominant language once they begin attending classes.

Some people believe that learning a second language could confuse their child, or hinder their language development. That is not the case at all! In fact, most language milestones are met at the same time when comparing children who learn one or two languages. Like other little ones, most bilingual children speak their first words by the time they turn one. By age two, they use two-word phrases.

When a child has a speech or language disorder, it shows up in both languages. They are not caused by learning another language, and they don’t make them worse either. It’s common for bilingual children to get grammar rules mixed up, or use words from both languages in one sentence. This is a normal part of being bilingual and it just means it’s harder for others to understand what they are saying.

If your child is learning two languages, be patient, make sure they get lots of practice, and be constant. You should speak to your little one in your dominant language, so that you can be a superb role model.