It was 1994 and I was fifteen.  The sky was grey and the air smelled of salami and gasoline.  I stepped off the airplane and got my first glimpse of the former Soviet Union and I immediately fell in love with the people, the culture and the language.  I went on to return to Ukraine two more times in high school before minoring in Russian as a college student.

Fast forward to the summer of 2007.  My oldest child was three and I desperately wanted to pass this love of the Russian language on to him.  But I wasn’t sure how.  I spoke with him in Russian as much as I could, but after several years of being out of practice, I found it difficult to speak to him in a way that made any sense.  Then I stumbled upon an ad for a Russian-American School starting right here in town.  I called that day and got him signed up.

He’s six and a half now and he can read and write in Russian and he understands quite a bit as well.  Slowly he is beginning to speak in this foreign tongue and my heart could not be more swollen with pride.  But it hasn’t been an easy road – and it’s not going to get any easier.  Especially as his sister comes up behind him with a far different personality…

There are documented advantages to exposing children to a second language.  Studies have proven that bilingual children have an edge cognitively from increased creativity, flexibility, capacity for learning and focus.  Children who are exposed to more than one language also tend to be more sensitive to people of other cultures, ethnicities and capacities as their awareness of the world is deepened and broadened.  (It should be noted that these findings are based on studies that included children with an advanced proficiency in a second language).

But how do parents expose their children to a second language and culture if they themselves are monolingual?

This very questioned is addressed in detail by Kendall King, Ph.D and Alison Mackey, Ph.D in their fabulous book The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language.  Both linguistic professors and mothers, King and Mackey equip parents with the motivation and resources they need to give their children a linguistical edge.  And I am extremely grateful to Dr. King who was kind enough to answer a few questions for me on this subject:

For monolingual parents who are interested in teaching their child a second language, where should they start?

Parents should start by thinking about which language is the best fit for their child and their context. Part of this is personal and part of this is your community.  For instance, what languages do you know or are in your family and what types of schools, classes, speakers exist in your area? All languages are equally complex and rich so the decision about which language is best is made by looking at what type of support exists for using that language meaningfully in a range of contexts.

What is an effective way to introduce a new language to a younger child?  What about an older child (say, above age 10)?

For both younger and older children, the key is interaction in the language that is meaningful, interesting and naturalistic. Children – both young and old – should be encouraged and given opportunities to do things in and with the language. Classes are fine, but grammar lessons and vocabulary lists, especially for younger children, should be avoided.

To effectively teach a child a second language, should he be enrolled in an Immersion Program?

Immersion is a fabulous option for children if it is available. There is a lot of evidence that these programs result in strong second language skills as well as content knowledge (e.g., math, science). I would highly recommend them.  There are other paths however and parents should not feel that this is the only way to teach a second language.

If a parent doesn’t read or write in the second language, how can we effectively help our children learn these skills?

Parents can support second language reading and writing by working on FIRST language reading and writing as many of these skills transfer. There are also fabulous books on tape and other media resources out there (we discuss these resources in depth in the book).

What are the benefits to teaching a child a second language?

There are a myriad of personal, academic, cognitive and cultural benefits to bilingualism. There is no one reason or one way to teach a child a second language, nor is there a deadline (by age) for doing so. For me personally, the strongest motivator is allowing my child to connect with others and help him understand there is more than one way of thinking and doing something (or saying something).

Is there a danger of confusing small children if we introduce a second language when their English is still developing?

No, while many parents worry about this – and all children who are learning two languages do go through a period of mixing them – this is not a long-term problem. There is no evidence that raising a child bilingually results in confusion or delay. 

Can a child raised in a monolingual home really become proficient in a second language?

Learning a language is a life-long process and proficiency varies over time and by context. In short, there is strong evidence that children can and do, with the right support, become proficient speakers of a second language. Immersion programs have shown this in many contexts.

What encouragement can you give to parents who are teaching their children a second language and are growing weary of how much work and effort it takes?

Language teaching and learning is a long process and parents should not be too hard on themselves or their child. Progress is not always even and goes in fits and starts.

What materials and programs are most effective in supporting your child as he learns his second language?

Materials that promote interaction in the language.

Any other advice or tips you have for parents?

Be realistic, be patient and be informed!

All of these questions (and many more) are addressed in full in The Bilingual Edge, which can be purchased worldwide.

As a parent who has now spent nearly four years working to teach her children a second language I have a few tips for those of you who are thinking about starting a bilingual education with your own kids:

• Make it fun.  If it’s boring, they won’t want to learn and you’ll be wasting everyone’s time.  While I am glad that my son is learning the art of sitting down and completing homework, I also recognize the days when his heart isn’t in it.  On those days I try to make learning more of a game and less of worksheet completion.
• Find native speakers who can give your children a taste of the nuances that go into speaking the language (and no – I don’t consider Dora a native speaker).
• Set aside a little time daily to work with your children on language learning.  A short class once a week, while great exposure, will not result in proficiency.
• Find other children who are learning the second language or who are native second language speakers and set up play dates so your child can hear a peer speaking the foreign tongue.
• Be patient. It can be exceedingly frustrating when you work, work, work and are met with nothing but a blank stare and ungrateful protests.  Because a day will come when what you were drilling into their tiny heads suddenly “clicks” and the look of triumph on their faces will make it all worth it.
• Keep in mind that while you are working toward proficiency, ultimately the goal is to widen their horizens and introduce them to the beauty of this world.
• Instill in your child a sense of pride in their learning of a second language.  Let them know how special it is to be able to learn and speak a second language and give them a sense of ownership in the hard work they’re putting in.

There are many programs geared toward exposing and teaching young children a foreign language.  Below I’ve listed a few local programs to help you get started:

St. Louis Chinese Language School

The St. Louis Chinese Language School is an organization dedicated to teaching Chinese language, promoting Chinese culture and providing related services to the general public. The School is open to anyone interested in learning the Chinese language.   The School is operated on Sunday afternoons from 2 to 4:50 based on public school calendars and the programs consist of language and enrichment classes.  Language classes are tailored to a student’s knowledge of Chinese and conducted by Mandarin and English speaking Chinese teachers. For more information, visit The St. Louis Chinese Language School.

Spanish Clubhouse for Kids

The Spanish Clubhouse for Kids is a hands on, interactive learning program with opportunities for all ages.  With a Parent/Child class for those under three, children will learn Spanish through song, puppets, games and fun.  As they grow older, the classes become more theme related, but the focus always remains on fun and interaction.  Taught by both native speakers and trained teachers (all of the instructors have degrees in Spanish) children will be exposed to art, music, drama, reading and writing by those who are proficient in the language.  In the summer, Spanish Clubhouse also offers Immersion Camps for children looking to improve their range and skill.  While Spanish is the focus of the classes, German is also taught currently.  For more information visit Spanish Clubhouse for Kids.

Russian American School

The Russian American School is a place for adults and children to maintain and continue learning or beginning Russian.  Taught by native speakers, classes combine music, drama, stories, games, art and dance to teach children not only the Russian language, but also the culture and heritage of the country. They also hold quarterly concerts where your children can show off their language skills and witness the Russian culture through song and dance.  Starting at age 2.5 through adulthood, the Russian-American School is for all skill levels.  For more information visit the Russian American School.

With a little research, you can also find many native speakers of foreign languages who are willing to help aid you in your quest to teach your child a second language.  As with any endeavor, you must set out dedicated to this undertaking and remember first and foremost to make the learning process fun for both you and your child. 

Good luck and happy learning.