If in an instant we could transform our children into perfect bilinguals, fluent in both English and Portuguese or any other language, who wouldn't do it? However, the task of teaching two languages to a child is usually more complicated than parents realize.
Before I became a mother I met many Brazilians living in Europe who, out of conviction or insecurity, did not teach Portuguese to their children. Some were afraid that the child would get confused with two languages, or would not be able to communicate with the other parent, or that the child would reach school age without mastering the language of the country of residence. However, I also met some mothers who tried and failed totally or partially in teaching Portuguese to their children. Many were satisfied with the fact that the child could "understand" Portuguese.
I considered these cases examples of waste of an important opportunity for those children. Being a polyglot myself, I knew the enormous advantages of multilingualism well.
Before I became a mother I met many Brazilians living in Europe who, out of conviction or insecurity, did not teach Portuguese to their children. Some were afraid that the child would get confused with two languages, or would not be able to communicate with the other parent, or that the child would reach school age without mastering the language of the country of residence. However, I also met some mothers who tried and failed totally or partially in teaching Portuguese to their children. Many were satisfied with the fact that the child could "understand" Portuguese.
I considered these cases examples of waste of an important opportunity for those children. Being a polyglot myself, I knew the enormous advantages of multilingualism well.
When my daughter was born in England, I had no doubt that she would be brought up in three languages: Portuguese, English and Norwegian, her father’s language. I was convinced I was doing the right thing exposing her since birth to the languages with which she would have natural contact in life.
During pregnancy I read several books on bilingualism and all the articles I could find about trilingualism. After the birth of my daughter I continued reading a lot about multilingualism and kept correspondence with a British researcher, who, in addition to studying trilingualism, had herself a trilingual child.
When my daughter was 5, I helped to establish and for several years ran (as a volunteer) the Brazilian School of Bromley, which offered Portuguese lessons to children in southeast London and northwest Kent, as well as some memorable Brazilain children’s parties.
Today my daughter is 12 and is totally fluent in English and Portuguese, both spoken and written, and is very competent in Norwegian. During these 12 years I learned some important lessons from our own experience and that of relatives and friends who are also raising bilingual children.
For some time I considered sharing this experience with other families, and eventually decided to create this blog, where I will try to provide information to Brazilian parents living abroad, especially those in England, who are trying to give their children the wonderful gift of bilingualism.
Welcome to 'Bilingual children'!
Go to Filhos bilingues
During pregnancy I read several books on bilingualism and all the articles I could find about trilingualism. After the birth of my daughter I continued reading a lot about multilingualism and kept correspondence with a British researcher, who, in addition to studying trilingualism, had herself a trilingual child.
When my daughter was 5, I helped to establish and for several years ran (as a volunteer) the Brazilian School of Bromley, which offered Portuguese lessons to children in southeast London and northwest Kent, as well as some memorable Brazilain children’s parties.
Today my daughter is 12 and is totally fluent in English and Portuguese, both spoken and written, and is very competent in Norwegian. During these 12 years I learned some important lessons from our own experience and that of relatives and friends who are also raising bilingual children.
For some time I considered sharing this experience with other families, and eventually decided to create this blog, where I will try to provide information to Brazilian parents living abroad, especially those in England, who are trying to give their children the wonderful gift of bilingualism.
Welcome to 'Bilingual children'!
Go to Filhos bilingues
