Switch from Dominant to Minority Language

Switch from Dominant to Minority Language

Are you considering transitioning from the dominant community language to the minority language at home? Perhaps you’re proficient in English and seeking ways to encourage your child to speak Turkish, the minority language, at home. Maybe you’ve already been raising your children to be bilingual or even trilingual. You might have noticed that both you and your children learn and sometimes forget words in different languages. This is perfectly normal and common. You can find more information on this topic in our blogs understanding language loss and bilingualism.

The good news is that transitioning from the dominant to the minority language is achievable. While it may pose challenges, it’s never too late to make the switch. You can do so with joy and enthusiasm. merhabakids is here to support you on your journey.

What obstacles will you be confronted with?

It might come as a surprise to those around you when you begin speaking your minority language. People’s reactions can vary, including those of your in-laws and friends. Eventually, they’ll come to accept it, so don’t hesitate to continue speaking the language you prefer. Your children may react unexpectedly, possibly with surprise or resistance. They might even pretend not to hear you. You might feel uneasy because it doesn’t feel natural at first. However, over time, both your children and the people around you, including yourself, can develop a positive relationship with speaking Turkish.

What you can do!

Speak the minority language during daily routines

It’s important for at least one caregiver to consistently speak the minority language. Many bilingual and multilingual families adopt the “One Person, One Language” (OPOL) method, ensuring a consistent language relationship between caregiver and child.

merhabakids’ team has discussed several topics that are easily applicable to daily home life:
expressions at the table, expressions before bedtime, exchange of formalities, greeting, and farewell, which we playfully teach the children in our classes.

While travel can certainly spark interest in a new language, you don’t have to wait for a vacation. You can start planting the seeds and fostering the minority language right at home.

How to make the switch

Here are some examples of how merhabakids supports children:

Language building

We begin by teaching numbers, colors, fruits, and vegetables. Over time, we integrate these words into sentences.
We introduce common words such as verbs, directions, body parts, food, and emotions. This approach enhances your child’s ability to master daily routine vocabulary, thereby boosting confidence in learning new words.
We utilize body language to convey new words without relying on English. For instance:
- When expressing sadness, we encourage pouting and exaggerated fake crying.
- When discussing the human body, we point to each body part while saying the corresponding word in Turkish. These words require no translation into English.
We use pictures to visually represent words, preventing reliance on English translations.
We progressively expand vocabulary from phrases to sentences, gradually increasing duration and frequency, ultimately aiming for full language immersion.

Language reinforcement

merhabakids has developed games featuring multiple-choice questions, providing an enjoyable and effective method for building confidence.
If our students respond in English, we translate their answer into Turkish and prompt them to repeat it.
When posing questions, we offer answer options, such as, “Is the apple in the picture green or red?”
merhabakids consistently offers positive affirmations to encourage progress.
We refrain from criticizing pronunciation and grammar errors, instead fostering a supportive environment where students feel comfortable speaking, even if they make mistakes initially. We kindly correct any errors and encourage students to repeat the sentence correctly, without causing embarrassment.

Remind yourself of why you want your child to learn Turkish.

This step is primarily for the parents rather than the children. Take a moment to remind yourself why you want your child to learn Turkish. Is it to embrace their cultural heritage? Do you envision them conversing with their grandparents? Are you planning a trip to Turkey? Do you want them to benefit from the advantages of being bilingual? Reflecting on these motivations can provide clarity and reinforce your commitment to nurturing your child’s language skills.

Make Turkish accessible

Do you have the chance to label items around your home in Turkish? Visualization is an excellent method for language learning!

Enjoy watching quality movies with your child in Turkish. Platforms like Netflix and the Disney Channel offer movies and cartoons with Turkish translations. Watch them together!