Some of the most common questions about a bilingual education

Frequently asked questions

Q. Will it be difficult for my child to learn two languages?

A. NO. Bilingualism is normal. All over the world millions of people are brought up to speak two or more languages as part of their natural way of life. So a child who is brought up in a bilingual environment is not required to do anything especially unusual or difficult.

Q. Is it important for my child to learn English or Spanish before starting nursery or school?

A. NO. Don't worry about teaching your young child a specific language. Learning any language helps small children to make sense of the world around them and to discover the excitement of communication. Once children know how to use one language, they will usually learn another one very quickly.

Q. Am I giving my child something special by helping him to be bilingual?

A. Definitely YES. By having more than one language you are providing your child with an enriched cultural experience. You can be confident that most children have the ability to be good at both their home language and the language used in nursery/school. The important thing is to help your child to enjoy communicating, in any language.

Q. My child is mixing up the language he is learning should I be worried?

A. NO. While learning to talk all children mix up words and sentences. Sometimes children from a bilingual background will mix two languages within the same sentence. This happens most when they are not really aware yet that they are learning two languages and it is a natural stage. They will soon work out the difference in vocabulary and rules of the two languages.

Q. Will my child learn another language from watching T.V.?

A. NO. Young children may sit in front of the television for hours but they will be watching the pictures, not listening to the words. Research shows this is not the way children learn another language effectively.