What does your child speak?

People from all over the world come to live in Dubai seeking to make a living. In fact, over 80 per cent of its inhabitants are expatriate. These are the families that form this city's multicultural and multilingual backbone.

However, there's a danger present in this stimulating environment: that of its children getting lost in the translation.

Confusion, mixed languages, losing touch with native languages altogether are some issues that may come to the fore when multilingualism is not handled properly.

Anything to fear?

I am Dutch, my husband is English. We have a four-year-old son and a nine-month-old daughter. Do they have anything to fear?

Like many mothers, I often find myself speaking English to Daniel, my eldest, when I pick him up from school. Is it out of politeness towards the other mums? It probably is.

Silke Rehman, workshop leader of ‘Raising Bilingual Children' and the driving force behind the Multilingual Support Network
(www.themlnetwork.com), warns against this.

"As a rule of thumb — when you look your child in the eye — speak your own language. Don't mix languages for the sake of being polite."

Silke, 36, is German and married to a Briton, who is half Scottish and half Pakistani.

Together, they have a six-year-old daughter who speaks fluent English, German and some French.

"This did not just happen overnight," Silke says.

"It's been the product of making language decisions, setting objectives, developing a strategy and most importantly, acting on it. Each family situation is unique. Yet, what is universal is the need for commitment; the willingness to make the additional effort and to persevere if need be. In the end, however, the benefits are worth the effort."

Parts of Silke's own efforts towards this are evident at her workshop called 'Raising Bilingual Children'.

About a dozen parents of mixed nationalities were present at a recent one, most of them hailing from a monolingual background.

In the introduction, parents talked briefly about their own situations.

Some had reached the stage where their children were refusing to speak their native language, whereas others were still expecting their children.
What all those attending had in common, however, was their desire to successfully turn their children bilingual.

In fact, that was what the workshop was all about: to help create a clear action plan and build a support network.

The three-hour-long session began with creating an understanding of bilingualism and its advantages.

"Being raised with one or more languages is a gift for life. It means access to another culture, heightened self-esteem, increased career options and more flexible and divergent thinking," said Silke.

Dos and don'ts

In addition, the course discussed dos and don'ts, specifically paying attention to the question "my child is older — have I missed the boat?" It is good to know it never is too late, although — as always — "the earlier, the better."

The workshop was of a highly practical nature. I left the one I attended feeling better equipped to guide my children successfully on their language journey.

The few beginner's mistakes I have made, I now know how to mend. And with my second child, I can start from scratch.

Such initiatives can benefit expatriates living in Dubai. The sheer weight lies in creating greater overall awareness of the advantages bilingual children have over others.

Ultimately, these are the children of Dubai who will make for more global citizens; an important asset to cherish.

Workshop
Raising Bilingual Children
What: Raising Bilingual Children: a workshop for parents
When: November 22, 9am – 12pm
Where: Jumeirah 1
How to attend: booking via www.themlnetwork.com
Cost: Dh 220

The writer is a Gulf News reader