The time to learn a foreign language is when you're young, as I mentioned in 10 Reasons Why Your Child Should Learn a Foreign Language. That's why I'm always sad when I hear a parent tell me that, even though their native language isn't English and they wanted to speak it to their child and have their child learn it too, they've been discouraged from doing so by their doctor, who cites concerns over speech delays. While there may occasionally be merit to this, I think many doctors (and nervous parents) aren't taking into account all the long term benefits of being bilingual or at least knowing more than one language from a young age. So what if it takes a few months longer to hit certain vocabulary milestones?
In addition to the serious benefits I mentioned in my prior post, there are some less serious but still useful benefits of speaking a foreign language with your child, some of which I encounter fairly often with my son, since we both speak Russian. Of course, these often work best if the language isn't such a common second language that there's bound to be someone around who understands. After all, speak Spanish in NYC or many other places in the U.S. and you'll have plenty of company. In no particular order:
1. Answer an Awkward Question in a Public Place
If you're a parent of a young child, you probably can identify with the sometimes endearing, often embarrassing candid questions that can pop up at any time. Since we often take the NYC subway, my son has asked me about people in various costumes at Halloween, about the various musicians or dance performers that sometimes entertain in a car, about people who are begging for food or money, or about someone's purple hair.
Fortunately I don't have to answer these questions in English–I revert to speaking quietly in Russian, or tell him in Russian that I'll talk to him about his questions later.
2. Instruct or Discipline Your Child Without Everyone Overhearing
Along the same lines, I find it helpful to be able to instruct and discipline in another language, and since it's usually in the same tone of voice, it doesn't draw attention and we avoid being overheard, unless there happens to be a Russian speaker nearby. It can be a simple reminder to thank someone, or a discussion about a behavior that's rude and not appropriate.
3. Plan a Surprise for Your Spouse Without Leaving the Room
Around a spouse's birthday or holiday, it can become pretty obvious to your spouse that you're being secretive when you beckon your child to go into another room to plan. If you're speaking with your child in another language anyway a good part of the time, it's easy to plan surprises without your spouse knowing something's up.
4. Help a Foreign Visitor with Directions or a Photo
While I'm the one who usually offers to help, since my son is too shy, I'm happy that he can see concrete evidence of how knowing a language isn't just useful to you, but is a window to others and another culture, and can be used to help and connect with them.
I've helped lost Russians navigate the NYC subway system, and just recently in Siem Reap we offered to take a photo of a Russian family visiting one of the temples. I love watching people's eyes light up when you speak with them in their native language.
5. Send a Postcard Without Everyone Reading It
It's fun to send postcards, but I'm not always so keen on everyone being able to read even a brief note to my son. Writing it in Russian is good practice for both of us and is almost akin to a “code” since few U.S. postal workers speak it.
If you and another family member speak a foreign language, how has it come in handy?
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