I have heard many teachers with good intentions tell immigrants that they need to speak English at home to their child so the child’s English and school work will improve. This is not good advice from a linguistic and cultural point of view.
While it is true that the key to success in a new country is language, children will learn a second language best if they have a firm foundation in a first language and a first cultural identity. From there, they can transfer knowledge to the new language and the new culture. It is important to have a strong foundation in a first language and a first culture so that what is learned about the new language and culture can be built upon that foundation. This creates true bilingualism where both languages are strong and both cultures and cultural identities are valued.
If a parent’s proficiency level in English is not good, it is far better for them to give their children the gift of a solid first language by speaking and reading the native language to them in all its richness and complexity. This language richness (the idioms, the rhetorical devices, the proverbs, the vocabulary, clichés) is the foundation upon which the child’s knowledge of a second language can grow. A rich first language will help the child succeed far better than trying to speak to him or her in not-so-perfect English.
In a past life, I spent a year or two teaching children of Mexican immigrants. These children’s parents spoke to them in a mix of poor English and Spanish. The children had extremely low English skills although it was, for them, their native language. Socially, they had difficulty as well because they didn’t really belong to either culture. Healthy bilingualism means there is a strong identity with both cultures and both languages.
The final lesson: Don’t listen to teachers who say immigrants must speak English to their children at home. It is a myth that this helps a child succeed in school and life. Give children the gift of true bilingualism by speaking, reading and writing in the first language and showing the value and richness of that language and culture.
This is thought-provoking - thanks for sharing it. My Chinese parents fortunately were more concerned with me not learning Chinese than they were with English. But nevertheless, they still thought it was their duty to try to pass on a little of their hard-learned English to me. As a result I still occasionally have problems with the notorious "r" and "th" sounds, especially when combined together in, say, "birthday"!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Personally, I know some couples that they do not want to speak to their children in their mother tongue. They have a variety of reasons (some of them are interesting and compelling) but the reality is that their children are unable to speak quite well one language. In contrast, I know one couple of Colombians who speak exclusively Spanish at home. The outcome: Their children are completely bilingual in Spanish and French, they do not have any problem to identify themselves as either Colombian or French Canadian. So there is strong empirical evidence for your thoughts! Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteMy children are lucky to experience two languages French and English. Their father spoke to them in his French Canadian mother tongue and I in English. It made for interesting conversations at the dinner table.
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