Creating a bilingual environment

Having your children engage with the culture – books, music, food, and so on – is not only a great way to spark their interest in the languages you are teaching them, but also helps diversify their education.

Buying books in different languages and teaching children to read independently allows them to pick up new vocabulary or expressions that they might not learn from day-to-day conversations. As they become more and more immersed in the story-telling and develop a love for reading, you may find that your children reach out for new books of their own volition, making their education ever more independent. Beyond learning or improving their ability in the language, they may also become more sensitive to particular philosophies or mindsets of the culture, and develop a finer, important understanding about differences between societies.

Listening to and singing songs with your children could also help them improve their fluency in a similar way, with the added benefit of them practicing the language as they sing. You may also let your children watch shows or movies in different languages, so that they can be exposed to the different ways a language can be spoken – maybe using different idioms, expressions, or accents.

Food also plays an important role in every culture, from the preparation of various ingredients, to the different cooking techniques, to the specific meal etiquette. By giving your children the opportunity to regularly eat food from your target cultures, you will be helping them develop a closer relationship with said cultures. Teach them the names of different ingredients and dishes, involve them in the preparation of food, and talk to them about the traditions that may surround certain foods!