A couple of weeks ago I blogged about the always-contentious fact that earlier is not necessarily better when it comes to acquiring a second (third, fourth, etc.) language. This post aims to help clarify what might be the right time, based on a parent question. We would like our children to have both our language … Continue reading So what is the right time for L2 education?
Tag: bilingualism
Meeting the Languages Challenge
This is a guest post that I wrote for the EAL Journal, a UK publication attached to NALDIC (National Association for Language Development in the Curriculum) about my recently published book. Click on the photo for link.
Top 5 posts of 2017
2017 was a busy year for me, and ended with the splitting of my site for parents (this one) from my site for schools (now at http://www.crisfieldeducationalconsulting.com). Although in many ways it is easier to maintain one site, and although the messages I hope to share on my blog are equally important for parents and … Continue reading Top 5 posts of 2017
Is early English-language education always the right choice?
There is a common presumption among ex-pat families, in particular, that if you have a choice between primary school in the home language and in English, the latter is the better choice. This ties in to the common myth "earlier is always better" for acquiring a new language, especially through immersion. Let's take a quick … Continue reading Is early English-language education always the right choice?
Identity language – what’s that? (Spotlight on Good Practice series)
To reject the child's language in school is to reject the child. Jim Cummins First language, home language, mother tongue, family language... all these terms are used in international education, to try and talk about the languages students bring into schools. But what is implied by all these terms, and how does that affect the … Continue reading Identity language – what’s that? (Spotlight on Good Practice series)
Wondering about translanguaging?
I've been promising for years to write a post about pedagogical translanguaging. In fact, probably about five years! But I always get stuck in the details... I want to present it accurately, and really show how it works. So I created (with the help of Ollydave) this short explainer video, so people can have … Continue reading Wondering about translanguaging?
The Perennial question – can children with SEN become bilingual?
... the real issue is not whether they should become bilingual, but how to best support them in their life with two or more languages. (E. Kay-Raining Bird) I've written about the topic quite a few times over the years, because it is one that causes parents great concern. It is also a topic where … Continue reading The Perennial question – can children with SEN become bilingual?
Privilege and Paradox in Bilingual Education
A few weeks ago I sat down with Donna Bardsley at Amsterdam Mamas, to record a podcast on bilingualism and bilingual education. The topics ranged from my own experience raising three kids with three languages, to the more complex, and compelling, issue of how language status affects children who are becoming bilingual. I've written about … Continue reading Privilege and Paradox in Bilingual Education
International Mother Language Day: Why is it important?
On the occasion of this Day, I launch an appeal for the potential of multilingual education to be acknowledged everywhere, in education and administrative systems, in cultural expressions and the media, cyberspace and trade. Irina Bokova, UNESCO Director-General Every year I write a post about this day, but it's important to remember that "Mother language" … Continue reading International Mother Language Day: Why is it important?
Promoting home language use: How do we make a difference?
When I was in Hong Kong last week and meeting with parents and teachers, the subject of discussion was often the issues raised in my previous blog post about HK parents choosing to speak English with their children rather than Cantonese. Inevitably, someone would ask how we can change this pattern of choosing the higher-status … Continue reading Promoting home language use: How do we make a difference?
