How to Help Your Child Speak Your Language Without Stress

 

We are living in a world that looks like we're in one village! Thanks to Internet. 

Also, we are living in a world that parents are too busy to have time for their children. Not only are people busy with work, but busy with phones, laptops, tablets, ipads etc the almighty digital world!

As a result, people have less or no time for children, talk less of taking time to teach their children their mother tongues. 

I am not ruling out the fact that there are still persistent parents who ensure that their children speak their language no matter where they reside. However, majority of parents don't border teaching their children to learn their languages. 

Some try from beginning but end up not achieving the end results. This could be as a result of working most of the times and getting tired to teach the children their languages, or being carried away by the children's way of communicating with them. 

For instance, a child that the parent speaks his/her language to, would always prefer to communicate with the parents using the language of the environment they live in. 

I remember my children doing this to me. They'll always want to communicate to me in English Language even though I want them to communicate with me in the language of our ancestors. 

So How Do You Help Children Maintain Your Original Language irrespective of where they live?

1. By consciously Teaching Them 

Most parents believe that speaking your language to your children would make them learn to actually speak the language. No, they may understand your language but not be able to communicate with the language. I am referring to diaspora families. 

Make time to teach your children your language. Teach them the nouns of your language. Teach them the verbs and general parts of speech of your language. 

This could be done once a week or based on your availability. Make sure you are consistent. 

2. Set Up Daily Reminder 

As adults you are bound to forget because of many other things in your mind. It is important to set reminder if possible two to three times a day. It should be when you're home. 

The alarm should remind you to communicate in your language with your children. 

3. Revision/Repeating 

Always revise what you have taught your children because they'll forget. You do this by asking them questions about the ones they learned last time. 

This also connects to setting the reminder as we discussed already. Consistency is the key.

4. Task Them

Give your children tasks to acomplish. By this, I mean to give them assignments in your language. These days children prefer using their electronics more. You can see this as an opportunity to achieve your goal. 

Set this as a task for them, before they use their gadgets they have to name 5-10 things in your language. Other times they should make sentences in your language before they're allowed to play  their games. 

I use these techniques to get my children to speak my language. Whatever they want to ask from me either to go to the park, or to ask for something that would benefit them they'll have to ask in my language. So before they want to ask me for anything, they'll first practise the questions in my language. This method has helped us a lot. 

Feel free to contribute or ask any questions in the comment session. 

Disclaimer: These are practical steps which have helped me. I feel I should share it with those struggling to help their children speak their native language.  

People who know me personally have always asked me what I do that help my children to speak my language. This is the reason I am sharing my tips