When language is child's play

Raising children to speak several languages is both appealing and necessary for most parents living abroad. Although you may only dream about being fluent in Spanish and Catalan, with some thought, dedication and creativity, it can be second nature to your children. 

From the start, every family should define what multilingualism means for them. For some families, having the ability to understand many languages will be enough, while other parents expect their children to be able to communicate effortlessly in all the languages they’re exposed to. Others may feel strongly about their native language being their kids’ primary language and will leave it up to school, friends and the community to develop their Spanish and Catalan language skills. 

It’s important to be proactive from the beginning. Children learn best from native speakers of a language, so speak to your child in your mother tongue from birth. As they grow, you can use more advanced vocabulary, share jokes and ask questions. When parents stick to their mother tongue, there’s also less chance that they will teach their children the language incorrectly. Marianne, originally from the US, who is raising her three children in Barcelona, said, “My husband (who is Spanish) travelled a lot when our kids were small, and when he was away, we would only speak English at home. He found it hard to come back and be the only one speaking Spanish, so he began speaking to them in English as well. Not only did they not learn Spanish until they were older and had begun school in Barcelona, but they also picked up a few bad pronunciation habits like pronouncing the ‘w’ in ‘sword’.”

This theory works the other way around, too. No matter how long you’ve lived in Barcelona, or how well you speak the language, a native speaker will always be a better example than you. It’s fine for your children to hear you speaking to your neighbours in Catalan or ordering dinner in Spanish, but for the major development of those two languages, it’s best to let them learn from native teachers and classmates, read books and watch TV in Spanish and Catalan. 

This also poses the question of whether it’s more beneficial to send your children to public school or to one of the many international schools in the city. In public schools in Catalunya, classes are taught primarily in Catalan. If this is a new language for your child when he or she starts school, it may take longer to settle in and feel comfortable, though it is likely to lead to better long-term integration into the local community for the whole family. If you don’t speak Catalan or Spanish, then communicating with teachers that don’t speak English could be an issue for you.

When it comes to international schools, there are two identifiable groups to choose from. The first type of international school teaches children in their native language, following the curriculum of their ‘home’ country, and may or may not teach Spanish as a second language. These schools typically offer the International Baccalaureate, which is comprised of four well-respected programmes of international education. This option ensures that children will become proficient at reading and writing in their native language, while becoming fluent in a second, third or fourth.

The second group teaches students in their native language, but follows a curriculum based on the Spanish national system, leading to the Bachillerato from ages 16 to 18, after which students will take their university entrance exam. In this school setting, Spanish will most likely be spoken socially. Some believe that pupils of these international schools become more proficient in languages in general, with the local language and a compulsory foreign language taught at school. 

It’s normal that your children will treat one of their languages as less important than the others. Maybe it’s the language they use and hear less frequently, or the language they find more difficult. This doesn’t mean they can’t still become multilingual. It’s up to you to find ways to engage with your children in their minority language. Janice, from the UK, said, “When my son started attending a local school at the age of three and was spending less time with me (the only person speaking English to him), I noticed a decline in his spoken English as Catalan became his primary language. I decided to take him on playdates with other English-speaking kids, and we enrolled in some English-speaking after-school activities.”

You might even consider enlisting a paid babysitter who speaks the ‘least important’ language to look after your children occasionally. It helps tremendously for them to hear that their parent isn’t the only one who speaks this language. They may well conclude that they don’t really need to know a language if only one person they interact with speaks it. 

Raising multilingual children is not always easy, but it’s worth the effort. Kids who speak multiple languages in Barcelona have the advantage of being able to communicate with the increasingly varied groups of people in the city, from making diverse friendships on the playground today to networking internationally when they start their career. Research also shows that people who speak more than one language enjoy increased brain activity that leads to advantages in focus and cognition, as well as a sharper memory. So create a plan as a family, start encouraging language learning early, and don’t get too worried if your children start out by speaking their own hybrid language, mixing all the languages they’re being exposed to. The words will work themselves out in the end. 

SUPPORTING MULTILINGUALISM AT HOME

Be patient

The old cliché says children’s minds are like sponges, but the reality is that each child learns language skills at his or her own speed. Raising multilingual children is a commitment that will have countless ups and downs. Be patient and know that there will be times when doubt sneaks in.

Read aloud

Reading to your children in your native language is a tried-and-tested way to help them develop all the skills for linguistic proficiency. As your children begin to read on their own, make sure you keep enough reading material around the house. Visit local libraries and bookshops to provide them with new books, comics and magazines in all their languages.

Travel when you can

A trip to a country where the minority language is spoken is one of the most powerful ways to promote language development and cultural understanding. Being in an exciting new place where everyone speaks their third or fourth language, children can better grasp the value of that language. They can practise with native speakers they meet and will associate the language with all those memories years later.

Encourage them to practise 

As kids grow up, they still need to practise—especially the minority language. Play off their interests to motivate them. If your daughter loves Marvel Comics characters, ask her to watch cartoons and movies about them in the language she uses least often. If your son likes to write, suggest he finds a pen pal to practise his writing skills.