{"id":244,"date":"2018-07-03T10:33:30","date_gmt":"2018-07-03T10:33:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/as\/ealaberdeenshire\/?page_id=244"},"modified":"2020-05-28T08:57:09","modified_gmt":"2020-05-28T08:57:09","slug":"parents","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/blogs.glowscotland.org.uk\/as\/ealaberdeenshire\/parents\/","title":{"rendered":"Parents"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Parents<\/strong><\/h1>\n

This section has advice, information and links to further resources and advice that will be helpful for parents of children who are learning English as an additional language or who speak another language as well as English as a first language.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Be Bilingual!<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Please click on this link<\/a> to access the following guidance in a range of languages.<\/p>\n

This link<\/a> also has translated information in a range of languages.<\/p>\n

What are the advantages of
being bilingual?<\/h3>\n

Speaking two languages can help a child to:
\u2022 maintain a link with their family culture and heritage. The home language is very important for passing on values and traditions and maintaining cultural identity.
\u2022 develop stronger skills in reading, language learning, attention and thinking. Learning and using more than one language can improve creative thinking, problem-solving and
expression.
\u2022 express their emotions because the home language is usually the one which the child
learns first, so it has a special value.
\u2022 have a better understanding of how language works and can make learning other languages easier.
\u2022 have better job opportunities as many jobs and employers need people who can speak,
Education & Children\u2019s Services read and write other languages.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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How can I support my\u00a0<\/strong>bilingual child at home?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

\u2022 Talk to your child in your home language(s). Socialise in your home language community
and keep in touch with your extended family.
\u2022 Encourage your child to learn new words in their first language. These words will help
them make links when learning English words.
\u2022 Read and talk about dual language books with your child. Your school and public library
should be able to access dual language books in most languages. Use your home language to talk about the pictures and ask questions e.g. Who? What? Where? Why? When?
\u2022 Talk to your child about their day in your home language(s); encourage them to tell you
about one thing that they learned\/did that day.
\u2022 Talk about class subjects; link this to your home country\/culture if possible e.g. similarities and differences.
\u2022 Play turn-taking games such as I-Spy, Snap, Dominoes, Lotto, Snakes and Ladders and
practise the language involved. Ask your child\u2019s class teacher or EAL teacher how to
play these games if you\u2019re not sure. They will also be able to explain why these games are
good for learning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Remember<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It can take up to two years to develop social English. However, it can take up to ten years to fully develop the academic English language skills needed for education.
Your child\u2019s first language \u201cprovides the best foundation for learning additional languages
and new concepts.\u201d Continuing to develop your child\u2019s home language will allow them to
develop concepts and reasoning, independently of their English language learning.<\/p>\n

Resources<\/h3>\n

\uf0b7 http:\/\/www.booktrust.org.uk\/programmes\/primary\/b
ooktime\/ – Guide on reading with your child
\uf0b7 http:\/\/learnenglishkids.britishcouncil.org\/en\/
\uf0b7 http:\/\/www.dk.com\/uk\/ – Visual dictionaries
\uf0b7 http:\/\/uk.mantralingua.com\/- Books
\uf0b7 http:\/\/www.usborne.com\/ – First words books
\uf0b7 http:\/\/www.worldbookonline.com\/kids\/home \u2013
encyclopedia with translations
\uf0b7 https:\/\/www.overdrive.com\/ \u2013 online books in a
variety of languages \u2013 sign in with library card
\uf0b7 https:\/\/www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk\/libraries\/<\/p>\n

Acknowledgements<\/h2>\n

– Learning in 2+languages (2005)
– www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk\/
– City of Edinburgh EAL Service<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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How can I help my child to read and write in both languages?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Reading and writing tasks need to be interesting and relevant to your child\u2019s experience. Your child\u2019s class teacher or EAL teacher can suggest suitable topics and activities. It is also important to read for pleasure \u2013 books, magazines, comics, websites, listening to CDs, radio, TV and DVDs etc. Community language classes are also a good way of developing home language skills.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n

What does it mean to be \u2018bilingual\u2019?<\/h3>\n

We use the term \u2018bilingual\u2019 for people who use more than one language in their daily lives. It does not mean that the person has equal skills in each language.<\/em><\/p>\n

My English is not very good. Should I speak English with my child?<\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>It is better to use your home language because you will provide a good model of the language.<\/em><\/p>\n

Will being bilingual affect my child\u2019s performance in school?<\/h3>\n

Initially your child may take more time to reach the standard they would achieve in their home language. However, in time and with motivation and support, they can achieve success and even perform better than monolinguals in national tests.<\/em><\/p>\n

How will my child learn English?<\/h3>\n

They will be hearing and using English at school every day and in the community.<\/em><\/p>\n

What can I do when my child doesn\u2019t want to use the home language? anymore?<\/p>\n

It is normal for children to want to use English all the time because they want to fit in with their friends. Sometimes this only lasts a short time. Keep using your first language at home even if they reply in English.<\/em><\/p>\n

My child mixes the two languages.\u00a0 What should I do?<\/h3>\n

This is very common when a child is learning two languages at the same time. Your child will gradually begin to separate the two languages. The age and speed at which they do this varies greatly. If you are worried, speak to the EAL teacher. <\/em><\/p>\n

Our home language uses a different script. Will this confuse my child?<\/h3>\n

Learning to read and write in English is helped by learning to read and write in the home language. Children can successfully learn to write in two totally different scripts.<\/em><\/p>\n

My child has problems with reading\/writing\/spelling in their home language. Will they have the same problems in English?<\/h3>\n

Some literacy problems do transfer from one language to another. Please provide any school reports and evidence of class work that you have to help the teacher support your child. They don\u2019t have to be in English.<\/em><\/p>\n

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The Booktrust has guides on reading with your child, available in a range of languages:\u00a0https:\/\/www.booktrust.org.uk\/books-and-reading\/tips-and-advice\/reading-tips\/how-to-read-with-your-child\/<\/a><\/h3>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tMulticultural Schools – Ideas for the Classroom – Primary – Practical Advice\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tJanuary 5, 2022\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/span>\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n
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Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tNALDIC – Multilingual Language Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tApril 23, 2020\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/span>\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n
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Multilingual Language Use During the COVID-19 Pandemic Please follow the link to find out more about this research… Are you a #multilingual family in the UK or Ireland? How is the #lockdown affecting your children\u2019s use of English and their other language(s)? Take part in this collaborative research project to help… Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tResources to support learning at home\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tMarch 19, 2020\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/span>\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n
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These resources are for families to use at home. One file is for nursery\/primary age, with some links relevant for babies\/toddlers. Another is for secondary age. The third came from Peterhead ASL team who were happy for it to be shared. These resources will be helpful for bilingual families, but… Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tTranslated Book Detectives\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/h3>\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\r\n\t\t\tOctober 3, 2019\t\t<\/a>\r\n\t<\/span>\r\n\t<\/header>\r\n
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Book Detectives – Arabic, Bulgarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Spanish These are translated tasks to support reading comprehension. If children are literate in first language they could read them to support their understanding of tasks. Tip: To help learners understand the purpose for reading, set questions before reading the text… Read more<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Benefits of reading<\/strong><\/h1>\n
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  1. \n

    Reading to young children sets them up to succeed<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The more you read to your children, the more knowledge they absorb, and knowledge is important in all aspects of life.<\/p>\n

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      Reading develops language skills<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      3.Exposure to reading exercises your child\u2019s brain<\/p>\n

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        Reading enhances a child\u2019s concentration<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      2. \n

        Reading together encourages a thirst for knowledge<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      3. \n

        A range of books teaches children about different topics<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      4. \n

        Reading develops a child\u2019s imagination and creativity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      5. \n

        Reading books with children helps to develop empathy<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      6. \n

        Books are a form of entertainment<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      7. \n

        Reading together helps to create a bond<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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        Importance of Reading With Kids: 10 Great Benefits<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n