How to Read to Your Child—In Any Language
Reading, for very good reasons, is near the top of every parent's list of educational goals and concerns for their young children. Parents know that encouraging their children to read and fostering a love for reading is fundamental to future enjoyment and success in school and extra-curricular learning.
Reading and books are so important and so powerful that the presence of many books in the home is statistically a better indicator of future academic success than parental occupation, education or wealth. According to one Princeton University study, "scholarly culture, as indicated by home library size, in the family home gives children a significant, and generally substantial, edge in academic performance… Having a large home library is important on its own."
So wouldn't it make sense to incorporate reading as an important part of learning a second language? The same benefits which children get from learning to read in their first language are just as available—and just as important—in a second language.
The good news is that parents can do a lot to help their children claim these benefits in a second language. And they can do so by following many of the same strategies and much of the same advice that works so well for learning to read in the first language.
And even better news is that you don't have to be an ace linguist to do these things and to do them well, in a way that helps your child learn and grow in their new language. They're things that you probably are already doing—or have already done—while introducing them to reading in their first language. With a little adaptation and a little imagination, they'll be just as effective with a second language too.
The More the Merrier
As with your child's first language, the sheer number of books in your home in another language makes a big difference. As Carey Myles says in her book Raising Bilingual Children, "In one language or two, the best way to foster your child's literacy is to provide an environment rich in language and print, and to make sure they have positive experiences relating to texts and the printed word. The effect of the family environment on children's later experiences with literacy has been researched extensively, and it is clear that these early years are very important."
Having books and other printed material around your home in your family's desired second language tells your children that you are supportive, enthusiastic and interested in their language learning, and that you want to share the experience. Whether you speak that language yourself, are somewhat conversational in it, or just want to enjoy your kid's discoveries with it, showing that you care about the language will do wonders for your child's desire and interest.
Libraries and Laps
Experts say frequent trips to the library are vital in fostering your child's love of and interest in reading. Libraries are special places, especially for children, connecting them to new worlds—including the world of a new language.
In addition to the hoards of books they offer you and your child, many libraries also have programs—story hours, puppet shows or many other fun activities—and an increasing number offer these programs in languages other than English. Librarians are also great resources in trying to find new reading material for your child in their new language, or to determine what books your child might like best. And even if your library doesn't have many language learning resources, they will often help you by placing an inter-library loan and borrow some materials from a nearby library.
A tremendous way to show your kids how much you care about and enjoy their new language is simply putting them on your lap as you read to them or encourage them to read to you. Putting your child on your lap helps them to focus their attention and encourages them to show off their language skills. It creates a naturally interactive environment for reading, keeping old stories fresh and making them memorable.
Rhymes and Ridiculousness
As we talked about in our other article this month, some parents worry about their pronunciation not being very "native-like." This concern leads some parents to feel anxious about their ability to set a good example for their children's own pronunciation. However, the enthusiasm and interaction you provide—no matter how rough your accent—is the key factor in your child's language learning.
The choice of books you read to your child can go a long way to creating a built-in enthusiasm for reading—for you and your child. Choosing books that rhyme or have repetitive phrases makes reading a more participatory experience for your child, as they can start to join in and shout out the words they know. As Carey Myles advises in Raising Bilingual Children, "Stories that have repeated phrases are easier for children to remember, enabling them to pretend to read while looking at the book on their own. This kind of pretending gives a child confidence, in addition to being fun."
Myles also points to a slightly subtler effect of rhyming on your child's linguistic awareness: "Playing rhyming games can help children recognize that words can be broken down in smaller parts, and that the word is changed when a sound changes." This kind of awareness is vital both for learning a new language and for building a bigger vocabulary—in either language. Rhyming also allows you and your child to work on your pronunciation—if you know the words are supposed to rhyme, you have a built-in guide to making the right sounds consistently.
Experts from the University of Michigan Medical School also recommend choosing books for children that encourage you to "ham it up by changing the tempo, volume, and expression of your voice for different characters." The more ridiculous, the better—your child loves it when you perform a book and not just read it. And if you're still a little self-conscious about your accent, using silly voices allows you to be more playful as you speak, worrying less about the "right" way to say something, and more about the fun.
A Picture Is Worth a Thousand (Vocab) Words
Choosing books with lots of bright and detail-filled illustrations makes story time a much richer experience, and can get your child practicing their new words. KidsHealth.org says, "Talk about the illustrations with your child. Point to items and name them. Then ask your child to name them with you and offer enthusiastic praise as he or she does so." You can even name them in English and ask your child to name them in their new language, practicing the names of colors, animals, fruits or vegetables in both languages together.
There are many ways to make reading with your child a tremendously rewarding part of learning a new language. Reading with your child in your new language is something all parents can do. With your enthusiasm and participation, your child will know that the new language she's learning is something valuable and fun. Reading with your child in a new language is an opportunity to learn together and grow together—and to grow closer as well.
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