The question of which age is most suitable for learning a foreign language has been studied for decades. It has become clear that it is most beneficial for children if they have the opportunity to hear their future languages simultaneously from an early age. But what if this is not possible and they come into…
Encouragement and motivation are good for everyone. But why are they so important for children who grow up in a multilingual environment? Firstly, because learning a language is not an overnight process, even if you start early. Secondly, because multilingual children are surrounded by many monolingual people who speak their dominant language with great confidence…
In my last workshop, a French father who lives in Spain told me that the silent phase lasted 4 years for his first child. He spoke to his son in French, but his son never spoke a word of French back; if he did reply, it was always in Spanish. Then, on his return from…
