Today we will look at three important issues in bilingualism:
- The reading time is 7 minutes.
Myths
Myth 1. Bilinguals have mixed languages
It's true. Children only mix languages if their parents do. Otherwise, a child doesn't just master two languages, but switches between them faster than someone who learns languages sequentially. ( Bialystok, 1986 ; Cromdal, 1999 ; Ricciardelli, 1992)
Myth 2: Bilingual children develop developmental delays.
Truth. 7% of all children can have delays in speech development. But it has nothing to do with the number of languages. It is harder to detect developmental delays in bilinguals. A child develops normally if at least one of their languages is at the level of their peers.
Myth 3. A bilingual child loses identity.
Truth. Children define their identity through the words of their parents. It is hard to find a person whose roots belong to only one country . Also a bilingual child can say that his identity is linked to two or more cultures, each of which is close to him. This makes him more open to the world and other cultures.
Myth 4. Bilingual children are scatterbrained.
It's true. On the contrary. Bilinguals have to constantly hold their attention on different details of languages, and this is a constant training of concentration. A training that is useful not only for learning languages, but also for any mental task.
Myth 5. Bilinguals know both languages at the same level.
Truth. Every bilingual has a dominant language that is conditioned by the child's environment and surroundings.
Myth 6: Bilinguals only become bilingual in early childhood.
It's true. It is easier to become bilingual as a child than as an adult because your parents make the effort for you. They create the conditions for learning several languages. But a bilingual can be a child whose parents speak different languages as well as a monolingual adult who has moved to a different language environment and is learning it from scratch.
How to teach bilinguals?

As well as monolinguals to a new language. Interesting. Engage. Tie them into their everyday lives.
At Palme School, we do things like this:
- We cover topics that will be useful in everyday life and dating.
- We use interactive formats, pictures, cartoons.
- We work in a methodology that captures reading, speaking, listening.
- We give assignments from brightly colored textbooks to consolidate knowledge.
How to set up a language environment for a bilingual at home? 6 tips for parents.


- Choose a model of parenting.
Mom - 1 language, Dad - 2 languages. Or: 1 language at home, 2 languages in the community. Choose any strategy you like, but it should be followed by the whole family. - Start at birth.
This is the perfect layout. Don't be afraid to start earlier rather than later. With the right approach, you will not overload your child. - Discuss the strategy with your partner.
The important point of any strategy is to be at one with each other. Raising a bilingual is an interesting but challenging task. Sabotage within the family will not make it any easier. - Separate the languages.
Even monolinguals suffer from language confusion when words like "boyfriend," "cringe," "post," "creator," "traffic," "head," etc. have become tightly integrated.
Try to find synonyms within the language. - Shape the environment of both languages.
If living in a monolingual country, seek out friends and communities where your child can interact with peers, play and learn in the second language. - Come up with your own motivations for yourself and your child.
Some parents do not admit that they know the second language and ask to repeat the phrase in their own language. Or they share a secret that the pet speaks only one of the languages.
Our teachers at Palme School use the most effective teaching methods. You can try Palme School's online Russian lessons for children for free.
And you can sign up for a free trial lesson here