Bilingual Kids Rock Podcast: Raising Multilingual Children, Multicultural Living, Growing Up With Multiple Languages. - 025: Late Bilingual Talker

025: Late Bilingual Talker

10/08/15 • -1 min

Bilingual Kids Rock Podcast: Raising Multilingual Children, Multicultural Living, Growing Up With Multiple Languages.

In today’s episode I am answering the question that came from our reader Carol. She writes:

Hi,
I have a 21 month old baby girl, and she says almost nothing.
Some people say that she is late, but I want to think that is because she is hearing two languages.
Is it normal that she isn’t saying many words?
I’m a little worried.

The first question her to answer is bilingualism really causes language delays?
There is a very common idea that bilingual child is a late talker compared to monolingual child because she is processing two languages.

First of all, there is no scientific evidence that bilingualism causes language delays.
And there were numerous studies that covered this topic.
For example, Psycho linguist Dr. Kimbrough Oller compared language development of babies on babbling stage. Both of the groups -bilingual and monolingual babies- started repetitive babbling (like ba-ba-ba) in the same age. In other words, it did not take bilingual babies to reproduce sounds because there were exposed to two languages.

As we see the idea that bilingualism is the reason for language delay is a myth and is not supported by any research.

Now, is your daughter really late talker or she is on the far edge of normal development?

Now that we know, that bilingual and monolingual children develop in the same pace lets see what 21 month old should say in her age.

Barbara Zurer Pearson in her book Raising A Bilingual Child gives us the following guideline for 18 to 24 month:

“First words come on average between 10 and 18 month. Average expressive vocabulary for boys – 75, with range from 13 to to 420 words.
Average expressive vocabulary for girls at 18 month : 112, ranging from 17 to 475.
We do not worry if the child does not have any words until after 18 month. It is more of a concern if a child does not understand any words at that age.

The next speech milestone comes around 24 month when toddlers should put together simple 2 word phrases.”

American Speech Language Hearing Association developed the guidelines on what should be normal speech development. Let see when they suggest to ring alarms: So, the child:

Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
Does not babble (4-7 months)
Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years)
Says only a few words (12-18 months)
Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years)
Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years)
Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years)
Has trouble with early reading and writing skills (2.5-3 years)

So what a parent of a late bilingual speaker should do?

Carol, you mention that your daughter says almost nothing. My understanding she still says several words. My advice, record the words she is saying in a daily log for about a week, sometimes parents don’t even realize that their babies say more words then they think. Count even words that no one except you understands, but your daughter uses them consistently referring to to something.

Pearson also makes stress that it is even more important that your 18 to 24 month old toddler understands what she has been told.

Lets check if your daughter has a good understanding. Try this activities for a week. Intentionally give your daughter simple directions, like bring me your shoes, or throw it in the garbage (kids love to clean when they are little and then this love vanishes somehow:) and then see if she can easily understand what you are asking for.
Also, the good game to play would be this one. Choose several object or toys, put them next to each other and ask her to bring you one of the toys. Another one, ask you child to identify body parts – hers and yours. Fro example: Where is your nose? Where is mommy’s nose?

Here is my personal experience: from this guidelines, I should say I had to ring alarms with all of my children . Well 3 of them, because the fourth one is only 10 month. It is especially true for my son. His first and single word “no” in Ukrainian came at around 24 month. And only by age three he started to produce understandable two-word phrases.

Now, after you recorded your daughter’s speech abilities, what next?
The chance for children (monolingual and bilingua...

In today’s episode I am answering the question that came from our reader Carol. She writes:

As we see the idea that bilingualism is the reason for language delay is a myth and is not supported by any research.

Now, is your daughter really late talker or she is on the far edge of normal development?

Now that we know, that bilingual and monolingual children develop in the same pace lets see what 21 month old should say in her age.

Barbara Zurer Pearson in her book Raising A Bilingual Child gives us the following guideline for 18 to 24 month:

The next speech milestone comes around 24 month when toddlers should put together simple 2 word phrases.”

American Speech Language Hearing Association developed the guidelines on what should be normal speech development. Let see when they suggest to ring alarms: So, the child:

Does not smile or interact with others (birth and older)
Does not babble (4-7 months)
Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7-12 months)
Does not understand what others say (7 months-2 years)
Says only a few words (12-18 months)
Words are not easily understood (18 months-2 years)
Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5-3 years)
Has trouble playing and talking with other children (2-3 years)
Has trouble with early reading and writing skills (2.5-3 years)

So what a parent of a late bilingual speaker should do?

Pearson also makes stress that it is even more important that your 18 to 24 month old toddler understands what she has been told.

Now, after you recorded your daughter’s speech abilities, what next?
The chance for children (monolingual and bilingua...

Previous Episode

024 : Jim Porter of Speekee on Finding The Right Language Teacher And Raising 2 Bilingual Kids In English And Spanish

Jim Porter is a British who lives in Spain with his wife and two bilingual children. He started teaching English in 1994 after he graduated from university in the UK.

It was in 1998 when he founded a tuition agency named Talk Languages, connecting hundreds of language teachers in the London area with thousands of happy clients for private lessons.

In 2006, he co-founded Speekee, where children to learn to speak Spanish together. In this interview, we’ll talk about his path to his career, raising his kids bilingual and the idea behind Speekee.

In this episode of Bilingual Kids Rock Podcast:

00:34 Introduction to Jim Porter of Speekee – Spanish for Kids Blog

1:50 Why did Jim choose a career on language?

7:40 What should parents look for in hiring a language teacher?

11:11 Language is learned the best when it’s life vs. when it’s on paper

13:01 What is the language situation in Jim Porter’s family? How do they balance the language spoken between their kids?

15:20 “My child doesn’t have linguistic abilities” – How can we make sure that the child gets to talk in another language?

18:00 What language should siblings speak among themselves?

19:17 Switching languages between siblings

22:27 How does Jim Porter’s kids speak English or Spanish at home?

25:18 Bilingual Schools – Full immersion or half immersion?

28:09 Did Jim teach his kids to learn how to read and write in English?

29:57 What is the idea behind Speekee?

33:56 Dicussing how kids learn so fast and their interaction with other kids

35:20 What can adults learn from kids on learning another language?

35:40 What you can learn from Speekee

36:70 Closing Remarks

Items mentioned in this episode:

Speekee

Talk Languages

Code-Switching vs. Borrowing in Bilingual Children

How To Raise a Bilingual Child

Was this information useful?

Don’t you wish you would have found it sooner?

Well to help other parents find Bilingual Kids Rock and spread our positive message – please subscribe & consider leaving a review and rating on iTunes.

You see – your reviews and subscription information is how iTunes determines what’s good, what’s bad, and what they should share with new listeners.

We REALLY appreciate your help – we can’t grow without your support.

To leave a review, login to iTunes, go to the BilingualKidsRock Podcast, and click the Ratings and Reviews tab.

Then rate us – five stars being good – and let us know what you enjoyed about the show.

We’ll even highlight your reviews in future podcasts!

Again – thank you for helping us grow and reach more bilingual families JUST LIKE YOURS

Next Episode

026: How A Parent Can Stick To Speaking Heritage Language

Today’s question came from a reader who speaks Arabic to her kids.

She writes:

My biggest problem is that I forget to speak my native language! I am so fluent in English, and surrounded by it so much all the time, that I keep slipping back into it without even noticing! The first year I did well with both my kids in trying to speak Arabic, and often said things in both languages (my husband doesn’t speak it), then slipped after that–both times. They are 8 and 3 now and I am worried I’ve missed my chance, especially with the older one. I am considering hiring a tutor... How do you make yourself keep on track and remember? Plus, they both love being read to, but there are almost no good quality children’s books in Arabic out there, we can’t afford Arabic satellite TV, and there’s no one around from the same cultural background as me. The most they get is when they visit with their cousins twice a year and hear a little Arabic there. Any advice would be appreciated.

Jehanne.

Dear Jehanne, I hear your pain. You are the only one around who can pass the language to your children, yet it is so difficult to stick to your native language because, well, you are the only on around who speaks it!

It is especially hard if your social and professional life is rich in majority language interaction.

I am walking in the same shoes as you, because I still struggle to stick to one of my native languages – Ukrainian. You see, I am the only person who can speak both of the languages to my kids – Russian and Ukrainian. I alternate these languages every two weeks. If Russian comes off really easy, Ukrainian is a bit more struggle. I often forget then I need to speak it and slip back to Russian.

The reason why sticking to your native language is so hard is because you have long habit of speaking majority language. Now you are breaking this long term habit and creating a new one. Which could be a very difficult task indeed. But the good news that with positive attitude and persistence habit can be changed.

It will take some time to get into the habit. The magic number you will hear is around 21-28 days, but I think it is different for every person, but in general if you got through the first month – you are on the right pass.

So how can you establish the habit to speaking Arabic?

First of all, you need to switch yourself into Arabic mode. The best way to do it is to immerse yourself into it first thing in the morning. Read something in Arabic – a book, a magazine, online news, watch some videos. Also maybe you can talk to your Arabic speaking family in the morning. Listen to Arabic radio station or Arabic music.

You can also have physical reminders throughout your home:
-sticky notes in high traffic places (like fridge, coffee machine, bathroom mirror etc)
-chalk board on the kitchen with the message in Arabic (and you can change the message as often as you want)
-home decor, like pillows with saying in Arabic, or just in ethnic style.
-phone reminders – through out the day set up phone reminders in random time that says just that – speak Arabic
-wear peace of jewelry in your national style when you are around your kids, like ring or bracelet. Every time you look at it, you will be reminded to stick to Arabic
-hang Arabic flag on the visible place – not only it will show your kids that you are proud of your heritage, but you will also be reminded to speak your language.

I also embrace my kids’ support. I often ask them to correct me if I forget to speak Ukrainian. My daughter feels so proud if she can help me to remember!

Please, don’t torture yourself that you don’t stick to the language for right now, it is not just the matter of your inner willpower. There are also many external factors that contribute to majority language usage in your family.
Start everyday fresh and and positive despite the fact that yesterday you used majority language most of the day. You will build this habit, its just the matter of time.

The thing is, when you are stressed about your language, kids will pick up on your mood and will develop the same feeling to their Arabic.
The point is – we don’t want the language you are trying to pass to be in the middle of stress.

Now, lets talk about if it is too late.
No, by any means – no. Older children are as capable to learn second language as younger ones.
But your 8 yeas old may not be as receptive to changing the language of communication with you. I think you should be ready for him to be a passive bilingual for a while, meaning he will understand everything you are saying, but just won’t respond. And that’s OK. With the right need in the future his passive langua...