for raising our child to be
bilingual/biliterate in French and
English
Generally, father will speak to child in French, mother in English. Child will have access
to books, music and videos in both English and French. As the child becomes older
and as the family possibly moves back and forth between English- and
French-speaking countries, the minority language (e.g. English when in France, French
when in America) may be slightly emphasized in the home; however, preference in the
home will generally be given to French, since English is most dominant in the world,
and also since it is spoken by the mother, with whom the child will have most contact.
Father (full-time student, frequently at home)
will speak only French to child. Mother
(principal caregiver) will read French books
to child, play and sing French children’s
music and videos and discuss them with the
child. Mother will also speak French to child
when Father is involved in the conversation.
Parents will speak on the telephone with
French friends and write letters in French
(about once a month), play adult French
music in the home, read French books and
newscasts aloud to each other. Parents will
also receive French guests in the home
(about once a year), and arrange for at least
one visit to France and/or Quebec.
Mother will speak English to child. She
will also read children’s books in
English to child, and play and sing
children’s music in English. The father
and mother will speak to each other,
as well as to other members of the
family and community, in English.
Parents will read and write in English,
as well as play adult music in English.
Child will attend church and weekly
playgroup in English. Family
members/friends/neighbors/members
of the community will speak to child in
English.
Child’s English input will continue as
before, less the English input from the
Mother in the evenings and on
weekends. Church nursery/Sunday
school in English (two hours/week) will
be added.
Father will continue to speak only French to
child, encouraging her to respond only in
French. He will no longer be a student, and
consequently will be less frequently at home.
To maintain somewhat of a balance, the
mother will speak French to child in the
evenings and on weekends, when the father
is also at home. The mother will accept the
child’s responses in either French or
English, since she will be speaking both
languages to the child; however, she will try
to separate them clearly herself using the
circumstance of the father’s presence as a
language marker. Mother will also try to find
other francophone families and join/organize
a francophone playgroup. Mother will
continue to read French children’s books and
play and sing French music for child. The
family will continue to receive French guests
and make visits to France and/or Quebec at
least once a year.
If possible, child will attend a French
immersion school. The father will continue
to speak French to the child. Other input will
continue. If there is no French immersion
school in the area, the mother will teach
child to read and write in French, building
on the child’s linguistic knowledge and
knowledge of print in both languages.
Mother will encourage writing letters and
emails to pen pals in France. Possibility of
spending extended periods of time in
France/French-speaking country, related to
father’s work.
English input will continue. If there is
no French immersion school in the
area, literacy instruction and
classroom/playground/peer group
interaction in English-speaking school
will be added.
Review family language patterns; plan for future according to circumstances and in light
of knowledge and experience gained.
We'll let you know!
