8 Tips to Successfully Raise a Bilingual Child

Photo by: Basykes on Flickr

Choose a method/develop a plan and stick to it

Once both parents are committed and fully understand the benefits associated with being bilingual, you will need to choose a method that works best with your family and decide to stick with it. The sticking with it part is essential, so make sure you make a plan that makes sense for you. The two most popular and most effective methods are known as mL@H (minority language at... more 

Photo by: Basykes on Flickr

Choose a method/develop a plan and stick to it

Once both parents are committed and fully understand the benefits associated with being bilingual, you will need to choose a method that works best with your family and decide to stick with it. The sticking with it part is essential, so make sure you make a plan that makes sense for you. The two most popular and most effective methods are known as mL@H (minority language at home) and OPOL (one parent, one language). The mL@H method is when both parents speak the minority, or target, language at home all the time. The OPOL method is when one parent speaks one language to the child and the other speaks the second language all the time. This one works really well only if each parent addresses the baby all the time in his or her language. less