Picture this scenario – you are a family raising a child with more than one language. You’ve invested substantial time and effort in crafting a comprehensive Family Language Plan, diligently arranging for increased exposure to your home language(s), collecting materials and preserving cultural heritage. In an ideal world, this plan would harmoniously align with your child’s education, especially their school and teachers. But then reality strikes. Your child starts school in the societal language, a language you don’t speak at home. The teacher(s) inform you that they don’t support your language plan and expect you to concentrate exclusively on the school language. Well, let me tell you, this isn’t some fictional scenario I’m pulling out of my sleeve just to fill the page here; it’s a very real issue that arises more often than we’d like to believe. In addition to families we’ve worked with, we’ve also had several followers on social media reach out, seeking guidance on how to handle this problem. It’s a widespread concern, and today, I’m diving into this topic to shed light on some of the challenges and solutions.
As we all know, a child’s multilingual journey isn’t confined to the home alone. It extends into the school environment, where educators play a critical role in shaping a child’s linguistic development. While the majority of teachers embrace and support multilingualism, there are instances where differences in perspective and expectations can emerge. Such situations may lead to confusion and self-doubt, making you question whether your family’s multilingual aspirations are at risk. Or even question if you are doing the right thing, because, after all, teachers are the experts in education and as parents, we may sometimes (or very often) feel like we’re navigating uncharted territory. However, it is important to remember that these differences don’t have to be the breaking point. Instead, get curious – they can be opportunities for open communication, collaboration and advocacy.
Before we dive in, let’s remind ourselves why a family language plan is such an essential component of multilingual parenting. It is the roadmap, the blueprint, for your family language goals that ensures a consistent, supportive and harmonious language environment for your child. It’s the foundation upon which your child’s linguistic future is built. As you may have read in our previous blog posts a
Family Language Plan usually addresses, but is not limited to, questions such as
- Which languages do we choose to focus on?
- Which goals do we want to set for each of these languages?
- How do we sustain our home language?
- How to handle community language exposure?
- How to handle cultural integration?
- What school choices to make?
- …
It’s a framework that offers clarity and consistency in what can otherwise be a complex multilingual landscape. Nevertheless, within the educational context, it can quickly become a double-edged sword.
Why, you might ask? Shouldn’t all that information on multilingualism in development be common knowledge? Furthermore, shouldn’t parents be receiving guidance on this from the school in the first place? These are all valid questions and I’ll be dedicating another blog post to explore the school’s role in family language planning. But for now, let me give you the short answer:
No, this information is not always common knowledge
and there are various reasons why friction may arise when trying to align family language planning, striving to sustain your home language(s) and the school’s attitude toward all of it. Some of them include:
- Limited understanding of multilingualism: One common reason is a limited understanding of multilingualism in child development. Unfortunately, not all educators are well-versed in this area and this lack of awareness can result in scepticism or even complete rejection of your family’s language plan.
- Personal beliefs: Teachers may also hold biases or stereotypes related to specific languages or cultures. If a teacher believes that one language is more valuable or “correct” than another, they may be less supportive of a family’s plan to sustain their home language.
- School policies and culture: In certain cases, teachers may encounter administrative constraints that require strict adherence to specific language policies within the school. These constraints can limit their flexibility in accommodating a family’s unique language plan.
- Communication challenges: At times, teachers might express concerns about effective communication with multilingual students, especially if they don’t speak or are not fluent in the language(s) spoken at the child’s home. This language barrier can give rise to challenges in communication and advice that may not align with the family’s goals.
- Lack of exposure: Teachers may be unfamiliar with the rich variety of languages and cultures their students bring to the classroom. This lack of exposure can lead to misunderstandings and misjudgments about the family language plan.
So, how can you navigate these differences in a productive and collaborative manner should you happen to find yourself stuck in language limbo with your child’s school,? Here are our 10 essential tips to start gaining their support:
- Open communication:
The foundation of any successful partnership is open and respectful communication. Initiate a conversation with your child’s teacher(s) to gain insight into their concerns and to share your family’s language plan. - Explain the details of your Family Language Plan: Clearly articulate the details of your plan and the rationale behind your choices. Approach these conversations as explanations, rather than justifications. Highlight why it is so important for you to preserve your home language(s) and emphasise the cognitive, linguistic, socio-emotional, cultural, academic and personal benefits it brings.
- Address the teacher’s / school’s concerns: Listen attentively to the teacher’s concerns and address them constructively. Always keep in mind that you share a common goal and resistance usually comes from a place of uncertainty and lack of knowledge/ awareness.
- Establish a positive dialogue: Don’t approach the conversation with a “ready-to -fight” mentality, aiming to prove others wrong and assert your rights. This defensive mindset will probably not foster the positive outcomes you are looking to achieve. Instead, begin by expressing gratitude for the teacher’s concern, time and expertise. Emphasise your wish to collaborate and work constructively.
- Be absolutely clear about your “Whys”: Why have you chosen to raise your child multilingually? Why is preserving your home language(s) and cultural heritage so important to your family? You need to have clear answers to these and similar questions, which will provide the foundation for effectively communicating your position.
- Provide resources:
Share resources, materials or strategies you’ve used / are planning on implementing, that might also aid the teacher in supporting your child’s language development. Taking this proactive approach will demonstrate your commitment and willingness to collaborate. - Share the benefits of a multilingual upbringing: Discuss the numerous cognitive, socio-emotional, cultural and academic benefits that come when a child is growing up with more than one language. Share real-life examples that show how multilingualism is an enhancement rather than a hurdle.
- Offer collaboration: Explore options to collaborate, so you can best support your child’s development. Work together to plan for language development goals, for example, that align with your family’s plan while adhering to the educational requirements.
- Engage with the school:
Actively participate in the school community, try connecting with other multilingual parents to seek support and diverse perspective. Collaborative efforts have the power to foster a more inclusive approach to (celebrate) language diversity. - Advocate for your child:
Ultimately, your primary role as a parent is to advocate for your child’s best interests. If you find that the teacher’s or school’s position is inflexible and poses an obstacle to your child’s language development, it may be necessary to explore alternative options, escalate the issue to higher authorities or seek guidance from and involve third-party specialists.
Navigating different language perspectives with your child’s teacher can indeed be challenging. However, embracing the discomfort and addressing it head-on is a crucial step in upholding your family language plan. Taking ownership of the situation and showing your unwavering commitment will undoubtedly show your child that this is a core value in your family – a value worth protecting and preserving.
Image by Allan Mas on www.pexel.com
