Strategies to Support Language and Speech Development for a Bilingual Child
Strategies to Support Language and Speech Development for a Bilingual Child in a Child Care Setting and at Home
Supporting your Child in a Childcare Setting
Prepared by Jane Druganova, based on experience and training. Jane is an experienced Bicultural support teacher via BSP Community services central. She is also a Russian Community Group coordinator and a teacher/coordinator of the RUSKIDS play sessions for children under 5 years of age.
- Speak slow
- Use 1-2 word sentences to explain what you mean, keep it simple
- Use gestures and mimics
- Use choice modelling rather than open ended questions, e.g. “Do you want red or green pencil?”, rather than “Which pencil do you want?”
- Explain what is required from the child in the childcare setting (routine and structure) show him/her what to do (e.g. where to put the bag, where to get lunch boxes, etc.)
- Praise his/her efforts to try things
- Praise attempts to say words in English even if they are incorrect. Do NOT correct the word; attempting is more important at this stage
- Please be patient when the child is about to finish the activity or is trying to show you something (not applicable when routine is required) — this is the other way of communication!
- If the child speaks home language to you, reply back in English or “put” English word into his/her mouth, so that he/she can pick them up
- Good Luck!
Supporting your Child at Home
by Dr Criss Jones Diaz
- Communication strategies
- Be consistent and avoid language mixing
- Be a positive role model
- Provide encouragement and praise child’s efforts
- Listen and respond to child’s conversation
- Ask lots of questions to extend child’s utterances and phrases
- Model correct forms - avoid correcting child’s speech
- Use the language consistency
- Don’t give up!