

If you’re raising your kids to be bilingual, you
probably know about the usual methods parents use to encourage kids to speak
two languages, from watching non-English TV shows and movies to downloading
apps that let you choose your own primary language. But there can be bumps in
the road:
Kids resist. You get worn down. And the language of
kids’ peers prevails. That’s when you need to get creative to nurture your kids
to speak in your native tongue. Try these media and tech tricks to keep kids on
track.
Change your TV’s secondary audio programming (SAP).
Most providers, including Comcast, Verizon, and Dish, let you change the
language of the broadcast. Set it up using the remote control menu and have
your kids watch all TV and streaming programs in the second language when
available. Kids may complain, but eventually they’ll be happy to get to watch
TV at all. Talk about the show in the second language, and point out how great
it is to see their favorite characters speaking the other language, which means
that character is bilingual, too.
Watch YouTube videos. There are lots of bilingual
shows on regular TV. But YouTube — which is global — has thousands of shows in
other languages. For younger kids, search for programs they like in the
language you want them to learn. You might be able to find fully dubbed versions
of their favorites or kids’ fare from other countries. (Just check first to
make sure they’re age-appropriate.) For older kids, you can find practical
lessons for many languages. Create playlists, so all your kids need to do is
click on the shows you’ve saved.
Listen to audiobooks. All bilingual books can help
kids learn a new language. But recorded books also expose them to the sounds of
the language, help with pronunciation, and improve comprehension because
they’re hearing stories in context. Add tales from your own culture to make it
a more immersive experience.
Read the news from other countries. Is your kid
interested in what’s happening in the world? Reading current events can be
another strategy to help with vocabulary development and comprehension.
Websites like Newsela offer age-appropriate news and nonfiction articles on
various reading levels in both English and Spanish.
Watch thought-provoking movies and documentaries. If
you can’t find movies in the language you want your kids to learn, try films
and documentaries about the people who speak the language and their culture.
Follow bilingual celebrities. Reinforce the value of
bilingualism by following the social media feeds of celebrities who speak two
(or more) languages. Every so often, stars like Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who
speaks French), Natalie Portman (who speaks Hebrew), Sandra Bullock (who speaks
German), and the many actors who speak English and Spanish — including Zoe
Saldana, Diego Luna, Gina Rodriguez, and Salma Hayek — will tweet in another
language or post a message that supports language fluency.
• Understand relations between objects.
• Identify parts of speech and devices like similes and metaphors.
• Correctly identify major elements of stories, like time, place, plot,
problem, and resolution.
• Read and write on a specific topic for fun, and understand what style
is needed.
• Analyze texts for meaning.