Myths about Bilingualism

26 November 2010

By Alvina Lopez

Myths about Bilingualism

Don’t buy into these myths. Instead, learn the truth behind them to support your mission.

1.    Isn’t good for children - This popular myth was supported by some poorly-run studies done long ago and is not true. Bilingual children are actually shown to develop some skills and tasks better than monolingual children.

2.    Causes confusion of languages - One myth says that bilingual children get confused and mix the languages together. The blending of more than one language in bilingual children is a normal part of learning and actually demonstrates their understanding of both languages.

3.    Causes stuttering - Some people believe that teaching a child more than one language at a time causes stuttering. While it is true that some bilingual children stutter, there is no evidence that bilingualism causes this or that it is any more prevalent than in monolingual children.

4.    Parents must be fluent in the target language - While it may be somewhat easier for the parents if they are fluent in the target language, it is by no means a restriction on the ability for them to raise a bilingual child without knowing the second language well.

5.    Reading and writing in several languages is too hard - Children who learn to read and write in more than one language actually demonstrate a better mastery and understanding of literacy.

6.    Your child will just pick up the second language without your help - It may be tempting to think that just because your child is exposed to more than one language, she will learn both without your help, but the truth is that successful bilingual learning comes through parental support.

7.    There is only one right way to teach bilingualism - This myth is completely wrong. There are many ways to teach bilingualism to your children, and you should find the way that works best for your family.

8.    Bilingual education will hurt academic performance - Whether learning two languages at school or at home, bilingual children’s education is not harmed by learning two languages. While some children may take a bit longer to catch up in class, especially if they are less proficient in the language being taught at school, there is no evidence that bilingual education is detrimental.

9.    Learn one language first, then the other - Old research used to support this myth that said learning languages at the same time would result in less proficiency, but children learning two or more languages at the same time are not at any disadvantage.

10.    Caught between cultures - Some believe that bilingual children will never feel at home in either culture, feeling lost and displaced. The reality is that most adults who grew up bilingually report never feeling this way.

Where do you stand with your child learning more than one language? What response have you had from others about teaching your child another African language? Do you believe in some of these myths? Let us know by leaving comments below.