how can we teach a child two languages since her/his birth?

Answer 1

through bilingual parents. making sure the child spends most of his time exposed to the target language always comes in handy to.

Answer 2

Childhood is the best time to learn a second (or third, or fourth) language! I think it's great that your children are learning both French and English. Growing up I had some friends whose parents were from different Asian countries, so the kids grew up speaking (or at least understanding) both their parents' native language as well as English. Even though they didn't use Vietnamese/Telugu/etc on a daily basis with those outsides their immediate families, they were able to use it with their parents and grandparents. I also had a lot of Hispanic friends growing up since I lived in the southwest, so many families were bilingual in English and Spanish, too. It's also worthwhile to mention that these days, being able to speak more than one language is a VERY marketable job skill. Spanish is most commonly desired in the US, of course, but other languages like Mandarin, Hindi, etc will be in ever-increasing demand. French is also a high-demand language in certain sectors. Someday, your kids might work for a company that does a lot of business in Canada, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, or Switzerland where French is either the official language or very commonly used. Or perhaps they'll do medical or non-profit work in Haiti, Madagascar, Camaroon, or any of the other 33 countries where French is the main or a major language. As far as the *number* of countries where any particular language is spoken, the only language more commonly spoken than French is English (45 countries).

Answer 3

According to my son's Pediatrician, any child can be taugh different languages (at the same time) as long as the child associates a particular language with only one voice / person. Hence, since my son was born, I always communicate with him in English and my Wife in Tagalog. My son is 21 months now, he can understand both languages and can already speak words and short phrases in both languages and use them correctly.

c",

Answer 4

By all means teach your child the two languages. Speak to them in both languages BUT do not under any circumstances use both languages in the same sentence. My family did this to me with "Spanglish" Spanish/English. It took me 6 years of Spanish to get that half breed (I am) out of me and speak the language whether Eng or span correctly.

Answer 5

One of the parents should speak in one language all the time and the other in the second language all the time.

At a certain point the child will know that he/she has to change languages to talk to each of the parents.

My granddaughter learned it like that and now she is fluent in English and Spanish and would even translate when necessary.

Answer 6

The child will pick up both languages just by listening to you and your partner talk. Children have an incredible ability to pick up languages. My brother came to the US when he was 3 years old and only spoke Spanish. After 3 months of watching cartoon in English and listening to me talk to my friends, he spoke English as good as any American!
All you have to do is talk...It's easy :o)

Answer 7

Children pick up languages very easily. I learned Spanish and English together growing up in a Spanish speaking family living in the US.

I consider myself completely bilingual, I can even think in both languages.

My niece who is 10, is also spanish speaking, now lives in Sweden, and within 1 year spoke
English, Swedish, and French.

Answer 8

a young child's brain is like a sponge. Buy language tapes, like Muzzy, audio or video, and have them listen to it. It'll teach them the basics of speaking it, when they get a little older, like school age, sign them into language classes in a local place.

Answer 9

speak to the child in both languages

Answer 10

My husband and I are both bi-lingual (he's Turkish and I'm Lebanese), so we are planning on using as much of those two languages with baby as possible since we speak to each other in English. I will sing him songs in both languages, address him randomly in both, etc. We are hoping it will work.