A Parents' and Teachers' Guide to Bilingualism

by Colin Baker

Overview

In this accessible guide to bilingualism, Colin Baker delivers a realistic picture of the joys and difficulties of raising bilingual children. This new edition includes more information on bilingualism in the digital age, and incorporates the latest research in areas such as neonatal language experience, multilingualism and language mixing.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781783091591
Publisher:	Channel View Publications
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Series:	Parents' and Teachers' Guides , #18
Edition description:	4th Edition
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	6.60(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Colin Baker is Emeritus Professor of Education at Bangor University. He has three bilingual children and has given talks for over 20 years to parents and teachers on bilingualism. His many publications on bilingualism include Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, which has been translated into Japanese, Spanish, Latvian, Greek and Mandarin and is now in its 5th edition (2011).

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgements	xi
	An Introduction to the Second Edition	xiii
	Introduction	xv
Section A	Family Questions
A1	What are the advantages of my child becoming bilingual?	1
A2	Are some families better placed than others to produce bilingual children?	5
A3	Is the mother more important than the father in the child's language development?	8
A4	What happens if parents don't agree that their children should become bilingual?	9
A5	If we raise our child to be bilingual, will it affect our marriage?	10
A6	What happens if grandparents and the extended family disapprove of bilingualism?	11
A7	I'm a one-parent family. How can I raise my child bilingually?	13
A8	Neither of us speaks a second language. How can we help our child become bilingual?	14
A9	My children get little practice in speaking one of their languages outside the family. What should I do?	15
A10	When watching television, should my child be encouraged to listen to one language or both languages?	16
A11	My children can speak two languages. How can I help them belong to two cultures?	17
A12	How important is it that the child's two languages are practiced and supported outside the home?	18
A13	What kind of community support is valuable for bilingualism?	19
A14	My neighbors think we should integrate more which means using a different language from the home. Should we keep separate or integrate?	19
A15	Can I learn a second language alongside my child?	20
A16	We have just moved to a different country. Should we speak the host country's language in the home to help our children?	21
A17	What should our language strategy be with an adopted child?	22
Section B	Language Development Questions
B1	What are the most important factors in raising a bilingual child?	26
B2	Do some children find it easier than others to become bilingual?	27
B3	Is it easier to become bilingual as a young child?	29
B4	How early do bilingual children recognize that they have two languages?	30
B5	Is it better for my child to learn a language early to secure better storage in the brain?	31
B6	Will my child become equally fluent in two languages?	32
B7	Is it better to develop two languages together or one language later than the other?	34
B8	How do I know my child's language development in each language is normal and acceptable?	35
B9	Will learning a second language interfere with development in the first language?	37
B10	Are there any benefits if my child has a less well developed second language?	39
B11	What effect will bilingualism have on my child's intelligence?	39
B12	I want my children to be successful. Should I concentrate on developing their first/majority language skills?	43
B13	Should my child keep the two languages separate in different situations and with different people (e.g. visitors)?	44
B14	Should my child use two languages with the same person?	47
B15	Will my child's attitudes affect the learning of a second language?	48
B16	Is it sensible to raise my child in three languages?	49
B17	Do girls and boys differ in their progress towards bilingualism and biliteracy?	50
B18	Are first-borns different to later-borns in developing bilingualism?	51
B19	Does switching between languages have any value or purpose?	52
B20	When will my bilingual child be able to interpret and translate from one language to another?	53
B21	How much will experience of majority language mass media affect the development of bilingualism in my child?	55
B22	Can music and drama help my child's bilingual development?	57
B23	Will computers and Information Technology affect my child's bilingualism?	58
B24	How important are employment prospects to preserve my child's languages into adulthood?	58
B25	I need to change the language(s) I've used with my children. How will it affect them?	59
Section C	Questions About Problems
C1	What are the disadvantages of my child becoming bilingual?	61
C2	My child mixes the two languages. What should I do?	63
C3	My child refuses to use one of his/her languages. What should I do?	64
C4	My teenage child is speaking the majority language more and more. What can I do?	65
C5	Will my child learn two languages only half as well as a monolingual child?	66
C6	Will my child's thinking be affected by being bilingual?	66
C7	Does bilingualism have an effect on the functioning of the brain?	68
C8	Will my bilingual children have a problem of identity with two different cultures?	69
C9	Will bilingualism have any adverse effect on my child's personality?	73
C10	Will bilingualism have any adverse effect on my child's friendships and social development?	74
C11	The balance of my child's two languages seems to be shifting. How can I ensure one language doesn't disappear?	75
C12	My child seems to have learning difficulties. Is this due to bilingualism?	76
C13	My child seems to have an emotional/behavioral problem. Is this caused by bilingualism?	78
C14	My child has a specific diagnosed problem (e.g. learning difficulty, language disorder, emotional problem). Should we change to speaking one language to the child rather than two languages? What language should I speak to my child?	78
C15	My child stutters. Is this caused by bilingualism?	81
C16	People make fun of our speaking a minority language. How should I react?	83
C17	People around me are prejudiced and racist. Should we as a family switch to speaking only the majority language?	84
C18	I'm a recent in-migrant to a country. Should I stop speaking my native language and switch to the first language of that country?	85
C19	My second language is not perfect. Should I speak it to my child?	86
C20	A local professional (e.g. a doctor, psychologist, speech therapist, teacher) advised me against bilingualism. Is this correct?	87
C21	Do teenagers suffer or gain if their parents come from different language and cultural backgrounds (mixed language marriages)?	87
Section D	Reading and Writing Questions
D1	Should my child learn to read in one language first?	89
D2	Will learning to read in a second language interfere with reading in the first language?	91
D3	If the two languages have different scripts, will learning to read and write be a problem?	92
D4	When should a child begin to read in a second language?	93
D5	How should I help my child to read and write in both languages?	93
D6	Which approach to teaching reading works best? The 'look and say', 'phonics', 'whole language' or what approach?	97
D7	Should I buy books for my child to read that contain two languages or just one language?	100
D8	How can I locate books for my child to read in each language?	100
D9	Will my child find it hard to write in two different languages?	100
D10	My child seems slow in learning to read. Is this due to bilingualism?	101
D11	My child has problems with spelling. Is this due to bilingualism?	101
Section E	Education Questions
	Basic Education Questions
E1	How can a nursery school support children's bilingualism?	103
E2	Should my child go to a bilingual school?	104
E3	What should I look out for in choosing a school for my bilingual child?	107
E4	Should my child be taught bilingually in the primary school but not in the secondary school?	108
E5	Should older children not be placed in bilingual education?	110
E6	Is there a 'critical age' when children shouldn't be moved to a school with a different language pattern in the curriculum?	112
E7	My children can hold a conversation in a second language. Is that sufficient for them to be taught in that language at school?	113
E8	My child is learning through a second language at school. Should we change our language pattern at home?	114
E9	How easy or difficult will it be for my children to find a job if they are bilingual?	115
	Types of Bilingual Education
E10	What types of bilingual education exist?	116
E11	What are Dual Language schools?	117
E12	What are International schools?	122
E13	What is the European Schools Movement?	124
E14	What is Heritage Language Bilingual Education?	127
E15	What is Transitional Bilingual Education?	129
E16	What is 'immersion bilingual education'?	130
E17	What are the main classroom features of successful immersion programs?	135
E18	What language strategies are used in immersion classrooms?	137
E19	What is a Withdrawal class for extra language support?	140
E20	What kind of education should I give my child if we regularly move to different countries?	142
E21	What are Saturday Schools and Voluntary Schools outside regular school hours, and how valuable are they in the development of a minority or second language?	143
	Achievement and Underachievement Questions
E22	Will my child's performance in school be affected by being bilingual?	144
E23	Are there positive effects of learning through the medium of two languages?	146
E24	My child is learning through a new language. Will this affect attainment at school?	146
E25	My child's school teaches through the minority language. Will this affect my child's development in the majority language?	147
E26	Speakers of our home language are often poor and unemployed. Should we ensure our child is educated in the majority language to aid employment prospects?	148
E27	My child seems to be underachieving at school. Is this because of bilingualism?	149
E28	Should my child be placed in a Bilingual Special Education Program?	152
E29	My child is suffering in school because other children tease him/her about speaking another language. What can I do?	156
	Language in the Classroom
E30	Will my child be able to learn a new language thoroughly in the school system?	157
E31	How should two languages be distributed in a bilingual classroom?	158
E32	Should Science and Mathematics be taught in an international language such as English?	160
E33	My child's school doesn't support bilingualism and there is no bilingual school nearby. What should I do?	161
E34	Which language should be used to test/assess/counsel a bilingual child? What should be the nature of such assessment?	163
E35	Are teachers trained to help bilingual children?	166
Section F	Concluding Questions
F1	The economy and politics of the world is changing. Is there a future for bilingualism?	167
F2	Why is it important for minority languages to survive in the future?	169
F3	Are monolinguals more common than bilinguals in the world?	172
F4	Why are many politicians against bilingualism and bilingual education?	172
F5	Is bilingualism a natural right of any individual?	174
F6	Does my child have a right to bilingual education? (e.g. in law, a natural right)?	175
F7	Language is an important part of our religion. Should my child learn a second language for this purpose?	178
F8	I use a particular dialect/a Creole/a pidgin language in the home. Is your advice about raising a bilingual child different or similar?	179
F9	I have a deaf child. Is your advice about raising a bilingual child different or similar?	180
F10	People talk about diglossia. What does it mean?	183
F11	Books on child care and child development warn me against bilingualism. How should I react?	186
F12	How do I contact other parents in a similar situation?	186
F13	Is the Internet going to affect my child's bilingualism?	187
F14	How do I find out more information about bilingualism?	189
	Epilogue	192
	Glossary	193
	Index	217

Editorial Reviews

Baker's well-organised and informative writing is relevant to the parents and teachers of ANY bilingual child – he carefully considers issues from every angle, not just the norm. An easily-accessible, inspiring read which arms us with the confidence to make raising and teaching our bilingual children a success!

Cheryl Sánchez

Baker's well-organised and informative writing is relevant to the parents and teachers of ANY bilingual child - he carefully considers issues from every angle, not just the norm. An easily-accessible, inspiring read which arms us with the confidence to make raising and teaching our bilingual children a success!

Baker's well-organised and informative writing is relevant to the parents and teachers of ANY bilingual child - he carefully considers issues from every angle, not just the norm. An easily-accessible, inspiring read which arms us with the confidence to make raising and teaching our bilingual children a success!

--Cheryl Sánchez, The Bilingual Bookshop, www.thebilingualbookshop.com

Sound advice given with erudition and simplicity is hard to come by. Once again Baker has put his encyclopedic knowledge on bilingualism to the service of parents and teachers. Every parent and teacher, no matter their circumstances, will feel their needs addressed in the sensible and generous information and guidance that Baker provides in this book.

Sound advice given with erudition and simplicity is hard to come by. Once again Baker has put his encyclopedic knowledge on bilingualism to the service of parents and teachers. Every parent and teacher, no matter their circumstances, will feel their needs addressed in the sensible and generous information and guidance that Baker provides in this book.

--Ofelia García, City University of New York, USA

This is the number one resource for any parent in a multilingual family. This revised edition is now even better than before with new sections on the latest developments (e.g. the internet, stuttering and translanguaging) and the great question and answer format allows you to read as much or as little as you want - a boon for busy parents. The text is written in a very straightforward style and is accessible, practical and the recommendations are feasible for almost all families. Nonetheless, years of study and personal experience feed into the text which is subtly nuanced and emotionally intelligent. If you are only going to buy one book, this is the one you should buy.

This is the number one resource for any parent in a multilingual family. This revised edition is now even better than before with new sections on the latest developments (e.g. the internet, stuttering and translanguaging) and the great question and answer format allows you to read as much or as little as you want - a boon for busy parents. The text is written in a very straightforward style and is accessible, practical and the recommendations are feasible for almost all families. Nonetheless, years of study and personal experience feed into the text which is subtly nuanced and emotionally intelligent. If you are only going to buy one book, this is the one you should buy.

--Claire Thomas, Waltham Forest Bilingual Group, UK

From the Publisher

A question-and-answer book for parents and also teachers of bilingual children, dealing with family and educational concerns, language issues, achievement and underachievement, and common problems, and raising awareness of the challenges and rewards of bilingualism. Includes a glossary. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

Sound advice given with erudition and simplicity is hard to come by. Once again Baker has put his encyclopedic knowledge on bilingualism to the service of parents and teachers. Every parent and teacher, no matter their circumstances, will feel their needs addressed in the sensible and generous information and guidance that Baker provides in this book.

Ofelia García

Reviews on Second Edition: The varied number of particular questions examined in this book make it of interest to parents, teachers, politicians, language planners, pediatricians, beginning students of bilingualism, and bilinguals themselves. This is a practical and informative book. Throughout it, the message that "bilingualism is valuable" resonates with authority and conviction.

Linguistlist - Carmen Silva-Corvalan

This book really met our family's needs - we are a bilingual family, in the exact same situation as Colin Baker and his family - which meant that the case studies were of real practical help. It is really useful to use as an arguing tool for anybody who comes up against prejudice against bringing one's children bilingual. It's also very easy to read, I feel I'll be referring to this one again!

A reader from Wales

This is the number one resource for any parent in a multilingual family. This revised edition is now even better than before with new sections on the latest developments (e.g. the internet, stuttering and translanguaging) and the great question and answer format allows you to read as much or as little as you want – a boon for busy parents. The text is written in a very straightforward style and is accessible, practical and the recommendations are feasible for almost all families. Nonetheless, years of study and personal experience feed into the text which is subtly nuanced and emotionally intelligent. If you are only going to buy one book, this is the one you should buy.

Claire Thomas

Families around the world raising bilingual and multilingual children will breathe a sigh of relief to find Colin Baker’s third edition of A Parents’ and Teachers’ Guide to Bilingualism. With its expert answers and easy-to-read format, this book will be a touchstone for families just getting started as well as those needing guidance along the way. As the world changes quickly, Colin Baker has taken the initiative to seek out and answer the most pressing questions and concerns of today’s bilingual families including questions on dyslexia, multiliteracies and autism with the same ease and expertise that we have come to expect from him.

Corey Heller

This book demonstrates a keen personal involvement and relish in the topic of bilingualism. It succeeds both in being locally rooted in Wales and in making links to many other contexts and situations of child bilingualism. We are offered clarity and coherence by an author with wide personal and professional experience of a complex, changing and important topic.

Welsh Journal of Education 11(1), 2002 - Janet Laugharne