Languages from a baby

[Travelbug1981]

I'm an expecting mum based in Uk! Due in Feb 22. We are really keen to ensure our little boy is bi-lingual given we are both English speakers.We are debating Spanish or Mandarin. Mandarin is taught in central London but I can't seem to find local classes. Has anyone else undertaken this research and have advice as to how best to expose babies from a young age (and later teach) languages ... any advice most welcome...

I don’t think there’s any possibility you can raise your child bilingually if you both only speak English and live in England. You can take classes, certainly, but that won’t enable bilingualism.

Do you or your DH speak either of these languages yourself, even at a rudimentary level? I know somebody whose mother tongue is English, but she only speaks to her DC in her second language (which she studied to degree level) and it seems to be working fairly well - although I don't speak the language in question, so I don't know if the kids are making lots of grammatical errors.

I think in your position, I'd probably try to learn the language intensively right now, while still on maternity leave...do a taught course (not just duolingo), watch TV programmes in that language, try to read magazines in that language too. Later, you can get bilingual picture books from libraries, and when your DC is old enough for TV, you could try to find Peppa Pig etc dubbed in Spanish or Mandarin. You may also be able to find a playgroup for speakers of your chosen language if you're in an area where there is a large Spanish or Chinese diaspora, but it will probably be aimed at native speakers who want to spend time with others from a similar background, rather than enthusiastic amateurs.

I think the biggest hurdle will be that if you yourself don't speak the language fluently, you will inadvertently teach errors of grammar and punctuation to your DC, which they will then have to unlearn.

Another idea: you could pay a native speaker of your chosen language to come and spend an hour or so with your DC, a couple of times a week, talking to them, playing games with them etc, in their language. If you know anybody locally who speaks the desired language, you could ask if they could recommend a teenager who likes children would be interested in earning a bit of pocket money in this way (you would have to supervise).

You can see if you can find group Spanish lessons. If you know of anyone in your area who can speak Spanish, ask if they can teach. But honestly, the alternative option of finding a qualified tutor in Spanish online and having lessons is way better.

Your local library and bookshop will stock resources in foreign languages, visit in order to take a look at those. Do a proper course, cactus are quite good but there are lots of other course providers out there. See films in Spanish, listen to audiobooks or read etc.

Watch or listen to Spanish music. Translate Spanish poems into English and vice versa too. Learn Spanish dances and see if you can find old Spanish plays online to read. If you can, find a Latino person as often times they will be taught Spanish from a early age.

You can't raise a child as bilingual unless one of you is a native speaker of the language. Going to classes doesn't make a child (or adult) bilingual.

In the short term, exposing very young children (babies, toddlers) to a second language can delay their development in their first language.

Learning a second language is a great thing to do, but I would keep it very low key, not expect bilingualism, and wait until your child is speaking English fairly well.

Your child isn't going to be bilingual from a couple of classes a week, youtubes or interaction only in the home with a parent with limited proficiency. I'd look for sustained immersion eg a Spanish nursery where kids need to use language for everyday communication but even so, they might not keep the language up when they reach school age unless they use it for regular meaningful communication.

A more achievable aim might be to use and understand another language (ie not full bilingualism), which has been shown to have cognitive benefits and will help them with language learning when they're older.

Firstly, congratulations on the new baby!

The only way your child has a chance to become bilingual is if you get an au pair who lives with you and speaks her language full time and is the primary carer.

Based on a survey of 13 other parents raising bilingual kids, it always delays production of speech. It can be stressful seeing your child still not speaking at all as the 3rd birthday approaches.

If you don't want to do this, you can help future language lessons by getting a heap of children's films and programmes and songs in your chosen language and having them as background noise for long hours of the day. Kiddo won't start spouting this language spontaneously but is likely to be much better - and have a really good accent - when studying in formal lessons later on.

@Travelbug1981 I realise that this post is over a year old, but did you attempt to immerse baby in another language? My wee one will be a month younger than yours and I'm very keen to do this!