Why bilingualism?
You have probably heard the question before. Why bilingualism?
If you have decided to raise your children bilingually, you may have heard this question from friends, teachers, relatives, in-laws, or anyone…. maybe you already have your own answer ready when someone asks you this question. You’ve probably already done your research, so you can easily answer the question. Or maybe you’ve answered the question from your gut.
If so, that’s great. I hope this article confirms all the things you already know about bilingualism. And if you’re not sure how to answer the question, I’m sure you’ll find some answers here.
Do you know who else might ask you the question about why you are bilingual? Your children.
Maybe not today, but I’m sure the conversation will come eventually.
– “Mom, why do the other kids only speak English?”
– “Mom, why do I have to watch the kids’ TV in Turkish? We want to watch it in English!”
– “Dad, why are you talking to me in your language? Mom doesn’t understand.”
– “My friends’ fathers don’t do that.”
– “Dad, why can’t we just talk normally?”
Perhaps these phrases sound familiar?
Maybe you haven’t experienced it yet, or not so explicitly. It is more of a general rejection that you may experience in your children when they do not want to speak in their native language. Do you observe your children turning more and more to the language of their peers?
You should talk to your children about bilingualism. You should discuss why it is so important to speak a second language. This conversation should be held early before rejection really sets in.
Also, remind yourself why you are bilingual. The reasons are probably the same! It is worth noting that some, if not all, of the benefits, occur when people are bilingual from an early age.
Advantages of bilingualism
Many of the cognitive benefits often cited in research when talking about the advantages of bilingualism actually apply to individuals who began using both languages in early childhood. So this is the time when children process both languages as if they were their native language. So it’s a little different than an adult who learns a second language later in life.
That’s not to mean that adult bilinguals who didn’t grow up bilingual don’t have bilingual advantages, because they definitely do. I just wanted to point out that this bilingual advantage doesn’t necessarily apply to everyone who speaks a second language. Many advantages are related to the fact that the child grew up speaking both languages. You as a parent have the opportunity to teach your children two languages, either through your own language use or by finding other opportunities outside the family. merhabakids can be a good partner for you in this process. We motivate children to speak the language they already know from you. Our courses take place online, so you as a parent don’t have to spend extra time. The children have fun and meet other children they would not otherwise meet.
You can start your children on the path to bilingualism early on and give them the opportunity to benefit from all of these advantages. So it makes perfect sense to pursue this goal for your children.
The first set of benefits is the cognitive benefits that have been demonstrated in many studies. You can probably attest to this because you’ve experienced it yourself. Research shows that the ability to speak two languages improves concentration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This is attributed to the fact that a bilingual child adjusts to the two languages he or she hears. The child does not do this consciously, but learns to “sort”: “What am I hearing?” It sorts the language into the correct range and knows to which language it belongs.
There are many studies that show that bilingual babies can already process and distinguish two languages at once. And that requires a certain amount of concentration and attention to small things like sounds or patterns they hear. This higher level of concentration promotes the ability to critically thinking, for example. This is a major benefit.
The second benefit that is often cited is the social benefit. Again, you can probably confirm this from your own experience with your own children or with other bilinguals. It is said that bilingualism promotes empathy, social awareness, and understanding of other cultures.
You can connect with more people. It opens the door to relationships or connections with people you would never have met otherwise.
I really enjoy being able to speak to someone in their native language. German, Turkish, and English come easily to me. I learned Spanish so I could speak with my brother-in-law’s family. I know that my efforts have earned me a lot of recognition. Unfortunately, I no longer speak Spanish, but it opened many doors for me at that time. I wish I had more languages in my repertoire to open many more doors.
Another benefit is the personal benefit. Again, you often hear that you have more or even better job opportunities if you are bilingual. I have not had this experience myself, but I know of friends who have. It is more likely that someone with the same qualifications will get the advertised job because they are able to communicate with clients or customers.
The next benefit I want to mention is self-satisfaction. It’s just nice to know:
“I speak two languages.”
Our children do not yet understand what self-satisfaction means. So we have to remind them. “You know what? You speak two languages, do you realize how great that is?” It’s not something that’s innate in every child.
And I think one’s language skills definitely lead to higher self-esteem and greater satisfaction. Travel is always an advantage, of course. The advantage is that you travel with less fear of language barriers. Imagine traveling to a country you’ve never been to. But: you speak the language! You will definitely feel more comfortable there!
Let’s return to our initial question. Why bilingualism?
Who will ask us these questions? Maybe teachers or a friend’s parents or even extended family, your siblings, or your in-laws will ask the question, why are you doing this? Shouldn’t they be learning English instead? Why are you using another language at home that will only confuse them?
I think a lot of people are confused by the idea of speaking to a child in two languages. I think people are worried because of misinformation. One misinformation is that children with two languages will be “confused.” Children are good at learning languages. Children are adaptable. Children are good at figuring out which languages they want to use in which situations. So they are not “confused” at all. Children are very, very smart when it comes to language.
The answer you can give to concerned people is that the world is becoming more global. You may want to give your child a great start and help them navigate the multicultural, multilingual world we live in. THAT’S GOOD. merhabakids is also multicultural, and many of our students are multilingual as well.
Now, what happens when your children ask questions like, “Daddy, why are you talking to me in your language?” They probably just want to know, “Why can’t I be like the other kids?” That’s a valid question for them to ask. We need to reassure our children that this is normal. We need to explain to them that there are children in other countries who speak a language that may not be the language of their peers.
So if they learn Turkish at home, but speak English at school, play with their classmates in English, and watch English TV, …. they will say, “I don’t need Turkish. Mom, don’t you understand? Everyone speaks English. Why do I need to learn Turkish?” So it’s probably not enough to just tell them. It’s important that they can also experience it while traveling or with other children or with merhabakids. At merhabakids, we encourage children to speak Turkish through play. At merhabakids, children learn the language naturally, with the ease that comes with a mother tongue.
You have to get the kids out of their little bubbles somehow. With merhabakids, Turkish is easier to learn than ever before. The children learn the beauty of the language together with other children and have fun doing it. They see that they are not alone. They experience that other children and regions in the world also use this language.
With merhabakids, children see what they can use the language for. They can talk to other children and not just in English.
Show your child that this is a kind of “superpower.” Not everyone can do this. Show your child that you have this “superpower” too. For example, I learned six languages and still speak three of them. So I also know how sad it is to lose a language.
I show my children how I can “jump” in the three languages. This is my “superpower”. I speak English at the supermarket, German with my colleagues and Turkish with my friends. I show my children how I adapt to the situation and the people. For example, you can always point out that it helps them make more friends. Always find examples that are appropriate for your child’s awareness and age.
Children are not yet aware of the benefits of bilingualism. So it is our job to point out the benefits. This is undoubtedly a difficult task. It requires a lot of commitment. It takes a lot of planning. It takes a lot of resolutions. And what do you end up with? Your child doesn’t answer you in Turkish.
“My child just doesn’t want to.”
In fact, I hear that very, very often! “My child just doesn’t want to.” “I can’t find the resources I need.” “It’s too difficult. Should I throw in the towel?”
No. No, no, no. merhabakids can support you. Ask anyone who has successfully raised bilingual children. The answer every time will be that it is so worth it. Even when you’re in the middle of it, there are always little moments that show you it’s worth it. So keep doing it!
Keep going. Just keep at it. You have to have the intention to keep going. You need to follow through and stick to that plan. Remember that it’s all worth it. After all, you are giving your children a gift. Your children may not yet have the awareness to understand the value of that gift. They don’t yet have the perspective they need to know that this is a great benefit that will open doors in their lives. But eventually, they will be grateful to you for this gift. I can say this from my own experience. I received this gift from my parents!
Today I say, “Dear parents, thank you so much. Thank you so much.”
It’s a precious gift, so keep at it. It is worth it. You’ll see the hard work pays off.
merhabakids is very happy to support you. We motivate children to speak the language they already know from you. Our classes take place online, so you as a parent don’t have to spend extra time. Kids have fun and meet other kids they wouldn’t otherwise meet.
Keep following us, it’s worth it! You are giving your child the best gift!
We would be happy to meet your child at merhabakids.
Categories: Bilingualism