Your Home Language Is Important!

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​If you want your child to succeed, then HOLD ON to your Home Language!

Speaking the family language in the home is important for your child!

Knowing and using the home language will develop your child's security and pride in identity and understanding of his/her roots and heritage.

Knowing and using the home language will sustain communication with parents, grandparents and relatives.

Children who know and use the home language:
-learn religious practices and traditions
-have an additional worldview
-have a wide choice of college/university acceptance
-have a greater choice in the job market

Speaking the family language in the home will help your child learn English! Learning English means adding a new language, it does NOT mean that the home language will be lost. Your child learns new words for the many things he/she already knows and understands.

The two languages work together. Your child's knowledge of the home language will HELP him/her learn English. What is learned in one language is easily TRANSFERRED
into the other language.

Speaking the family language in the home will help your child DO WELL IN SCHOOL! Children who know and use the home language:
-do well on school tests and examinations
-have a head start in reading
-have strong reading and writing skills
-do well in math, logic and problem-solving
-are more willing and able to learn a third language

Parents, encourage your child to use the family language in the home. Take every opportunity to TALK with your child. Using two languages will NOT confuse your child. Mixing languages is normal for bilinguals. This is a sign of mastery of two linguistic systems and is NOT a sign of language confusion. It is rare for both languages to be balanced. As your child learns English, it may predominate because exposure to it is greater than exposure to the home language. Sing songs and read books in the home language regularly with your child. Organize playgroups with families who share the same home language. Make Heritage Language classes a family affair (children attend classes, parents join the Parent Group). Your involvement will show your child that the home language is important!

Here is a very useful site:

MyLanguage.ca