Before understanding the methods available to raise a bilingual child, it is important to understand the following terminology: 

​

Target language: a foreign language which a person intends to learn.

Community language: language spoken by members of minority groups or communities within a majority language context. 

 

The following are the most common family structures you find when talking about bilingual or multilingual families: 

 

• Only one parent knows an additional language; 

• Both parents speak a second language which is not the one used in the community where they reside; 

• Parents are monolingual but want to teach their child another language.

 

With this parent family structure in mind, here is a brief description of the most popular methods for raising a bilingual child: 

​

 

One parent, one language (OPOL)

This method is probably one of the most common ways to teach a child another language. Each parent speaks their own language to their child, establishing a relationship in that language. It requires effort, consistency and determination, but in the end it is worth it as you are establishing a relationship with your child in your native language. 

​

Minority language or target language at home

 

 This is when both parents speak one common language that is not the one spoken in their community. The task of establishing a relationship with your child might be a little easier, as there are two people reinforcing the target language.  

​

Time and place

For multilingual families or for families where parents are monolingual, this is a great strategy. You start by defining a time and place when you will be speaking a target language. For example, you might choose to speak Spanish at Abuela's house, or have dinners on Wednesdays be in German. This is a great strategy for families where there are multiple languages. 

​

Remember: 

There are of course pros and cons to each method. Just remember, every family is different, and therefore every familiy should apply the method that best works for them. 

​