Dual-Language Development:

Seek Multiple Perspectives

Breadcrumb trail:

Uncover and experience the perspectives of children, families, and colleagues.

When your work is informed by multiple perspectives, you have richer experiences, build stronger relationships, and deepen mutual understandings. Listening to others who have different perspectives can nudge you to reconsider your daily practice and worldview, and recognize and challenge your biases. They can also lead to shared inquiry. Finding areas in which you can collaborate with others is a great way to uncover and experience different perspectives. With CompSAT by your side, you may be inspired to seek the perspectives of the children, families, and colleagues in your program and beyond.

Two teachers discussing issues outside.

Historically, different perspectives have shaped how we approach second language learning in U.S. schools. Parents and grandparents often share stories of being punished for speaking their home language at school. Some have thought that children will not adequately learn English or will become confused if they are continually spoken to in their home language.

Try This!

Read each research perspective and compare this with other perspectives you have heard. Consider which perspectives keep the current system of power and privilege in place, and which have the potential to bring about more respect and equity.

A woman holding a baby girl in her arms.
For infants and toddlers, being bilingual in the home language and English allows them to participate in mainstream culture without losing important connections and a critical sense of identity with the home language culture.
A teacher reading a storybook to her class.
Growing consensus in the research community shows that developing children's first language skills in areas that are related to schooling, and literacy in particular, transfers to and supports the acquisition of English as a second language.
A young Asian boy holding his younger baby brother.
Research shows that despite the fact that simultaneous bilingual learners have half as much exposure to each language as monolingual learners, they exhibit the same basic developmental patterns at approximately the same ages.
Children sitting on the floor with coats on.
Research has shown that children who are fluent in two languages enjoy certain cognitive advantages in comparison to those who speak only one language.
A teacher and two children playing with a sock puppet.
Parents and early childhood educators should persist in using the home language, even if individual children prefer to use English, as this will ensure that, at least, they will acquire comprehension skills.
A young boy solving a puzzle.
Bilingualism strengthens the brain's capacity to manage complex mental tasks like planning and problem solving.

Use this template to record your observations, thoughts, and feelings.  Download the Template

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Deepen your understanding of the Topic: Home language and english in Performance Area 2 of the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 47.

Can you find other places in this competency area that address your interests and needs?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Extend Your Learning

Much work continues to be done toward increasing our understanding and competence in support of language learning in young children. Consider the following report released in 2012 by The Alliance for a Better Community, "Dual Language Learner Teacher Competencies (DLLTC)" for preschool teachers under the leadership of Antonia Lopez, National Council of La Raza, and Dr. Marlene Zepeda, California State University, Los Angeles. The DLLTC and accompanying documents can also be downloaded at http://www.afabc.org.