I believe raising bilingual kids is always a challenge for both parents and children. At the same time, raising bilingual children can be a rewarding and enriching experience for both parents and children. It opens up a world of opportunities and allows children to connect with different cultures and communities. Both my husband and I are Japanese, and our primary language is Japanese. I do not have a fancy theory or anything, but I want to share the things we have decided to do in order to keep our children’s Japanese at the maximum level while they learn English. If you are considering raising your child to be bilingual, here are three effective ways to create a strong foundation for their language development:
- Create “a ready-to-learn environment”
We had a hard time when my older son started going to preschool twice a week at the age of three. He cried so much on his first day and for another month, not only because of separation anxiety but also due to a language barrier. He did not understand any English back then, and he could not communicate with anyone at all. Since he was not feeling comfortable in the environment, he felt insecure and definitely was not ready to enjoy learning. We decided to wait for another year.
We tried a summer camp program at a different preschool the following year. There were still some tears in the beginning, but he was able to adjust and enjoy the new environment with new teachers and friends. I noticed that he started picking up some English words during this time. After completing the summer program, he had a smooth transition into preschool in September and started learning English more rapidly thereafter.
- Stick with whatever you decide to do and be consistent.
Consistency is key when it comes to raising bilingual children. Once you have decided on the approach you want to take, whether it’s the “one parent, one language” method or a mix of languages throughout the day, it is important to stick with it and be consistent. Consistency helps children develop a strong foundation in both languages and reduces confusion. It is essential for parents to consistently speak their designated language to their child, even if they respond in a different language. Over time, children will understand the language boundaries and become more proficient in both languages.
Consistency also extends to the wider family and community. Encourage grandparents, relatives, and caregivers to speak to your child in the designated language, reinforcing the language learning process. By maintaining consistency across different contexts, you are providing your child with a solid language framework.
I can confidently say that we keep everything 100% Japanese with our children. We speak only Japanese with them, and all TV programs and books we read are in Japanese. We are taking advantage of using local libraries for Japanese books. There are tons of Japanese books at the libraries, and we are all so happy that we have access to them.
There was one time when I used an English learning app with my older child and spoke English to him while using the app. This was during a period when he was having a hard time at preschool. I thought it might help him if he became more familiar with English.
However, after a day or two, I realized that I preferred him to focus on learning Japanese thoroughly at this point, as it would eventually benefit his English skills later on. Now that he is in second grade, he still receives support from the ESL (English as a Second Language) department in his class, but he speaks and writes English very well. We continue to maintain a 100% Japanese environment for our children, and we will stick to this decision moving forward.
- Seek help from experts such as an instructor, a language school
Having a Japanese language school nearby has been our priority. When we moved from East to West, we had to check if there was a Japanese language school around.
E now attends a Japanese language school on Saturdays. He studies Japanese using the same textbooks as schools in Japan. At home, my children can learn to speak Japanese, but reading and writing are a different story. Japanese has three types of characters: hiragana, katakana, and kanji. Learning kanji requires time and repeated practice to memorize them properly. In addition to reading and writing, he also learns about Japanese culture through the textbooks.
In addition, a language instructor or a language school can provide structured lessons and activities tailored to your child’s language development needs. They can introduce age-appropriate materials and methods to enhance your child’s language skills. Additionally, these experts can offer guidance and support to parents, answering questions and providing strategies to overcome any obstacles that may arise during the language learning journey.
Furthermore, connecting with other families who are also raising bilingual children can provide a support network and valuable insights. Online forums, social media groups, and community events can be great resources for finding like-minded parents who can share their experiences and offer advice.
Attending a Japanese language school adds extra work for him since he has a lot of homework to complete for the entire year. As parents, we are actively involved by helping him with his homework and grading it. Despite the additional workload for both our children and ourselves, it undeniably helps maximize E’s proficiency in Japanese.
I believe there is not always a right or wrong answer to raising bilingual children. Every kid and parent are different. Everyone has a different value, priority, and preference. I wanted to share some things we are doing and hope they can help you make a decision or plan for your children.
