語言是我們人類特有的能力。學習雙語和多種語言對孩子是有很多好處的。世界上大多數的人會講兩種語言以上。學習其他語言可以擴張孩子的思想空間,文化上的探索,和社會上的聯繫。對許多家庭來說,這也讓他們的孩子可以保持他們家庭的傳統語言,維持與家庭成員之間的親近,和建立家庭文化的自豪感。因為很多家長都會提供雙語學習給自己的子女,但同時也有些家長害怕會給孩子們帶來負擔,甚至出現語言障礙等問題。
在這篇文章中,筆者介紹了不同的問題,for example, “Is it a good idea to raise young children bilingually?”, “Is it normal for children to learn two languages at the same time?” and “Will infants and toddlers become confused if they are exposed to two languages?” etc. ,並說明孩子了解其他語言以及英語是有明顯的優勢,而這些優勢是可以通過孩子們的家庭是否說少數民族語言或英語所得的。當中也回顧了相關研究並表明,dual language development during the infant – toddler years is as natural as monolingual development and that given adequate learning environments, all children can acquire and come to enjoy the benefits of knowing more than one language. The birth to 3 years are a particularly good time for beginning dual language learning because infants and toddlers are particularly competent language learners. 文章中筆者也提供了在嬰兒期 (infant period) 有關雙語教學的建議。
拜託各位!!!