![]() In my experience, we Americans often put bilingualism on a pedestal:
The truth is that there is NO research supporting these opinions! Here’s what the research DOES say:
Although bilingualism doesn’t cause delays or problems, children who are immersed in a foreign language often demonstrate “normal phenomena” that might be interpreted as language delays. For example, many children who attend school in a new foreign language go through a “silent” or “nonverbal” period. Since they do not talk much at this stage, some teachers and other professionals unfamiliar with bilingual language development might wonder if the children have language delays. This is where a bilingual certified speech-language pathologist (SLP) comes into play. Regardless of whether we speak the same language as the child or family (for which we would need a knowledgeable interpreter), bilingual SLPs are able to assess whether a child presents with a language delay/disorder or a language difference. A language delay/disorder impacts all of the child’s languages, whereas a language difference means that the child is making errors because he is learning English. For example, a three-year-old girl who only speaks 50 words total in English and Mandarin would have a significant language delay or disorder. But let’s say that the girl has a twin sister. The twin has 1,000 words in both languages and speaks impeccable Mandarin but has a hard time using past-tense verbs in English. This girl would have a language difference because the skills in her first language—Mandarin—are developmentally appropriate. She is making errors in English because she is still learning the language. What should you do if you have questions or concerns? Bilingualism, as well as typical and disordered language development, are all tricky subjects with many nuances. If you have questions or concerns that your bilingual child is not learning or using languages like other children their age, please contact a certified bilingual SLP, such as ChitChat Therapies. We are passionate about bilingualism and language development, and will help guide you in the right direction for your family!
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AuthorHi! I'm Angie Wuelling, MA, CCC-SLP, bilingual speech-language pathologist and owner of ChitChat Therapies. I started this blog because I'm passionate about sharing information about speech, language, reading, and feeding development with fellow parents, speech-language pathologists, teachers, and other professionals. There's a lot of misinformation out there, and this blog is my small way of helping empower and educate others. Archives
July 2018
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