When bilingual children begin school in a language other than the one they speak at home, both the kid and the teacher may face difficulties. Learning how to deal with multilingual children and support their native language is a critical component of addressing their educational requirements.

There are several advantages to being bilingual, and instructors play an important role in ensuring that these advantages are realised by students. While teachers may be unaware of their impact, their support for a home language can influence how students see their culture and family language.

How can teachers support bilingual students?

Be positive about bilingualism

Teachers spend a large amount of time with their pupils and have a big impact on the lives of children. Supporting bilingual students and making them feel appreciated in the classroom has an impact on how they perceive their language abilities. For that reason selecting a school which supports bilingualism such as Invictus kindergarten HK is very important.

Communicate with the child’s parents about his or her needs. Inquire about their family’s language and culture, and show an interest in it.

Make it clear to your parents that you support their native tongue. You may give them suggestions for activities they can do at home with their children to help them develop their language skills. To assist them, recommend books to read or other language resources.

As a teacher, you may collaborate with bilingual families to ensure that each kid has a pleasant learning environment. Demonstrate to the student and their family that you respect bilingualism and are there to help them with both of their languages!

Allow children to share their home culture

Encourage bilingual students to discuss their backgrounds and cultures with the rest of the class. They might share their favourite song or teach their peers phrases in their own tongue.

Encourage kids to bring in objects that symbolise their cultural background from home. Many youngsters who are not multilingual may come from multicultural families. Make it possible for pupils to try new foods, read ethnic texts, and share their experiences and histories with their friends.

Sharing home cultures not only fosters an accepting atmosphere, but it also teaches children about different cultures and the globe. It is also an essential element of promoting one’s own language.

Challenge children who already know what you are teaching

If you teach Spanish to a youngster who already speaks Spanish, find methods to challenge it. Instead of teaching these children the same material as beginners, they prepare their classes so that their language skills continue to develop.

You will have to make additional efforts, but this will benefit the child and your class in the long run. It’s like having a mathematical or other subject student and finding lessons too easy. You help children take advantage of their education and ability to support a home language.

Be patient with children who need extra support

Further help may be required in the classroom for bilingual youngsters. For example, children who have not had much exposure to the community language just beginning school can require time to settle in.

While numerous studies show that when children are exposed to a new language at school, children require more help since they get familiar with the language very fast. You may require additional language courses or time and support for some activities.

Remember the importance of the home language

Although in the past, parental speakers had been encouraged to drop out and concentrate on the language of school, it was shown that this is not the greatest way to build a child’s language. The best thing parents can do, while their children learn in school, is to speak the minority language at home. Children have the best opportunity to be multilingual in this way.