Moving abroad as a parent brings with it so many concerns, considerations, burdens of worry and confusion specifically related to relocating your children. Parents have to think about the best way to help their children cope with expatriation for example, they have to ensure they achieve integration, and ultimately they will want to see their children thrive on the opportunities they will be presented with once they settle in overseas.
These issues and worries come on top of all the usual concerns one has when making a massive change in life, and so parents really do have it tough when expatriating with children in tow! However, the good news is that third generation children, (i.e., expatriate children) have many advantages in life over those who never have the chance to experience an alternative culture in childhood.
One of the main aspects of relocating with children that can potentially cause the biggest problems in the short-term – (and yet present the biggest opportunities in the long-term) - relates to learning a new language. We’ve been very fortunate to receive unique and expert opinion and advice from Olga Williamson, author of Bilingual Age, to help any Shelter Offshore readers who are thinking of moving abroad and who are worried about the best ways to integrate their children into a bilingual environment.
We interviewed Olga on behalf of all Shelter Offshore readers who are contemplating making a move overseas with children in tow. We wanted to discover how parents can decide whether the move will be right, how they can help their child learn a new language, and ultimately why bilingualism is such an important goal for a child to achieve if they want to integrate fully, and get the very most out of life abroad.
We asked: -
When is it the right choice for an expatriate family to choose bilingualism over educating their child at an international school or at home for example?
According to Bilingual Age’s Olga Williamson: “Choosing a right approach to bilingual upbringing takes some conscious planning and research. The questions to consider are: -
“1) How old are your children and
“2) How well would you like them to integrate and really know the second language?
“If you’re moving abroad with pre-school age children - and this is really the best age to move a child - then you have little to worry about with regard to potentially upsetting their education. There are invariably always a variety of local playschools or nurseries that will help your little ones pick up the local language quite easily. You may also consider hiring a local nanny or an au pair to speed up the language learning process for children in this age group.
“By the time your child is due to start school their second language abilities will be good enough to allow you to choose a local school for them, and for them to be educated through the medium of the second language.
“Receiving education through the medium of the second language will be a brilliant opportunity for your child to ultimately master the language to what we call ‘native level.’
“It’s not only schooling that will advance your child’s abilities either, it’s having local friends and classmates, getting involved with extra-curricular activities and interests too – basically everything that school brings into your child’s life will be through the medium of the second language, and this will help them advance in that language.
“However, herein lies a lesser considered catch – your child may be so engrossed and integrated into the second language, so how big a space is left in their life for English? At school English will be the foreign language; at home all your child may have is short daily routine conversations with you through the medium of English. You may probably want to see your child progressing in English as well though, so you can arrange a kind of home education system to ensure development of your native language continues.
“You can spend time together reading or writing stories, watching videos and learning rhymes and songs to ensure your child’s English develops too for example. Local expatriate communities often have clubs and children’s groups that can provide your child with excellent opportunities to speak English as well, and allow them to make English-speaking friends.
“Another option you have is that after your child becomes quite confident in the second language, you could consider sending them to an international school where education is via the medium of English. The advantages of this are obvious: i.e., schooling in their first language will help your child develop all the necessary language skills in English, plus in such schools the language of the country is taught at a very high level too so your child won’t lose their competence in the second language either. There could also be the opportunity for your child to study a third language as part of the curriculum – and as they will already be bilingual, they may absorb a third language easily.
“An international school can be a better first choice if you move abroad with older children in tow. The teachers in such schools are more aware of possible adaptation problems the children may face, and the children are generally more tolerant of new pupils from different backgrounds.
“A mother once complained to me that when she and her family first moved to Northern Cyprus and she sent her 8 year old daughter to a local school, she was bullied for not speaking Turkish properly. They changed the child’s school for an international school as a result and didn’t regret it for a minute. The girl is now speaking three languages: English, Turkish and Russian (her mother tongue) and enjoys the international school greatly. This proves that you may have to adapt your initial plan if it doesn’t work out – after all, every child is unique, and their ability to absorb a second language will depend on their age, the environment they are in, and even the support or otherwise of their teachers and fellow pupils.”
So, can you explain to Shelter Offshore readers what the main benefits to bilingualism are for expatriate families living abroad?
“By adopting the culture and language of your new country you will enhance your experience of living abroad. Really, what’s the point of moving abroad if the first thing you do is find an English speaking community and stick to them 7 days a week for as long as you stay in the country?
“It’s like living in an aquarium where you can only socialise with about a dozen other fish whilst the big and exciting world is on the other side of the glass remaining inaccessible to you. Why not go out and explore? It’s rewarding for both children and adults.
“Bilingualism allows for biculturalism which makes people more tolerant and open-minded; it broadens horizons, brings out the amazing diversity of the world we live in, and encourages fresh unconventional ways of thinking.
“For children it is quite beneficial in relation to language as well. They tend to pick up the language, not learn it. For little children, besides knowing two languages, there is an advantage when it comes to certain nonverbal cognitive tasks and attention control. Bilinguals tend to perform better than monolinguals on exercises that require blocking out distractions and switching between two or more different tasks, because they learn to be in control of their two languages from early years.
“Bringing up children bilingually can be quite an exciting though sometimes challenging experience.”
What are the main obstacles a family needs to potentially prepare for when taking the bilingual and integration approach when they move abroad? I.e., how can a parent help their child to integrate more successfully?
“All children react to moving abroad differently: some can be little affected by it or find it adventurous and exciting, easily make new friends and feeling at home, others can take it really hard. It depends on the character and the age of the child in question.
“It is generally accepted that the younger the children are, the easier they adapt to a new environment. Older children have a settled routine of life outside home: their school, friends, sports, clubs and (as you will be angrily informed) their own plans for the next several years that don’t include moving anywhere! They aren’t always ready to part with all of these things easily.
“The process of adaptation is not always smooth if you move with toddlers either. Unlike their big brothers and sisters they won’t moan that you are ‘ruining their life’ while you’re packing bags and suitcases, instead they are likely to go cranky after you arrive at your destination. Young children are quite sensitive to changes too you see, and moving abroad is a big change. They can feel insecure in a completely new unfamiliar setting.
“There are a number of tips I can share about how to make their transition period shorter and easier: for example, take as many of your toddler’s favourite things and toys with you in your suitcase. Take a favourite cushion, a much-loved bunny and of course any familiar pictures from their bedroom wall. Yes these things will take up a lot of space in your luggage, but these are the things that quicker than anything else will make a strange place look like home for your child.
“Make it your priority to arrange your child’s bedroom first. Having their own cosy “shelter” will cheer them up. Also try to unpack and settle in as quickly as possible. Stumbling across boxes and looking at bare walls wouldn’t make anybody feel at home. Spend as much time together as possible and your little one will find the changes easier to accept.
“Younger children are quicker in adapting to a new cultural environment and language and, more importantly, unlike teenagers, they don’t bear a long- term grudge for uprooting them!
“Also a question of how long you are going to stay abroad is something to consider. If you are moving for a short term and your child is at an important stage in school or facing an exam year for example, there is definitely something to think about, like whether the child can really benefit from such a move and whether the benefits will outweigh the potential drawbacks.
“Once your children have got used to the new environment they will catch up with the language surprisingly quickly, much quicker and seemingly easier than you. Then beware of another problem: in the environment where the second language dominates considerably some children become reluctant to speak their native language. At this point you have to look at ways to support your native language.
“In addition to what I have already mentioned above about developing English, you may possibly consider trips back to your home country and inviting your family and relatives to stay over for holidays to ensure English language doesn’t die out in your home!
“Cultural and language difference is another important thing that you should bear in mind when planning to move abroad. The further culturally the country of your new residence is from ‘home,’ the harder it is to adapt to. It is really worth starting to prepare for the move at home before you step foot on the plane.
“Tell your children all about the new country, their ways, history, holidays etc., watch videos, read books and start learning the language before you go too. Even a few phrases that your child will be able to say to the neighbouring children in the new home country can make this country become your child’s home much more easily.
“Try to do your best to arrange the opportunity for your child to make friends with local children. Find your child a sports club or an art school or horse riding lessons to engage them in activities where they can meet other children with the same interests.
“Some teenagers for whom the move was not quite voluntary can exhibit total rejection of the new culture and language. This is where life becomes difficult of course, but the course of action is the same: be patient, try to engage them in things they are interested in which involve social interaction, let them invite their friends they left behind to stay over for holidays.
“Teenagers visiting another country on holiday tend to appreciate it more, so your unhappy one may well catch some of their friend’s their enthusiasm.
“By and by all the problems will be overcome and when grown up your children will definitely appreciate their bicultural upbringing.”
