As someone who has dedicated years to studying bilingual education, raising multilingual children, and teaching English, I often find myself frustrated by the misunderstandings surrounding language learning and acquisition. These misconceptions can lead to unrealistic expectations, misplaced blame, and ineffective methods. Here are three things I wish monolingual parents understood about helping their children learn English (or insert any language).
1. Language Acquisition is Not the Same as Language Learning
Many parents approach English as if it’s just another school subject, like math. They believe that vocabulary should be memorized and tested, and when results don’t show up immediately, they blame the teacher.
But language acquisition doesn’t work that way. It’s a natural, immersive process where understanding builds over time through meaningful exposure. Memorizing a list of vocabulary words won’t help a child communicate or truly grasp the language. Instead, it’s about creating opportunities for them to hear, read, and use the language in context.
2. The Right Methods Make All the Difference
When I suggest methods like reading comprehensible readers or watching English TV shows with subtitles, I often hear, “That won’t work for my child.” This skepticism can be disheartening, especially when I know from experience that these methods are effective.
These strategies focus on making language accessible and engaging. For example:
- Comprehensible readers provide simple, relatable stories that help children absorb vocabulary and grammar naturally.
- Subtitled TV shows offer a fun way to connect spoken words with their meanings, starting with subtitles in the child’s native language if needed.
Language acquisition takes time and consistency. It’s not an overnight process, but with the right tools, progress is inevitable.
3. Trust the Expertise of Teachers and Educators
One of the most frustrating moments I’ve encountered is when parents downplay my advice or the efforts of their child’s teacher. They might assume the teacher isn’t doing enough or that my methods won’t work.
What they don’t see is the depth of experience behind these recommendations. I’ve studied bilingual education, learned comprehensible input and proficiency-based methods, and used them successfully with my own children and students. These methods helped me teach my children Arabic as a non-native speaker and raise them in a multilingual household.
When I make suggestions, it’s not guesswork—it’s grounded in research and real-life results. If you’re unsure, ask yourself: Are your current methods working?
Final Thoughts
Helping your child learn a language isn’t about quick fixes or shortcuts. It’s about patience, understanding, and trusting proven strategies. By focusing on language acquisition rather than rote learning, you’ll set your child up for long-term success.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure where to start, remember: there are educators like me who are here to guide you. Together, we can make language learning a joyful and rewarding journey for your child.