Bilingualism; bilingualism in children; do bilingual children speak later; do bilingual children start speaking later; how to ra

To mark Polish Diaspora Bilingualism Day, the "Czytam i mówię po polsku" (I Read and Speak Polish) online bookstore hosted a special guest: a speech therapist practicing in the UK who works according to the principles of the Kraków Method. As the method’s creator, Prof. Jagoda Cieszyńska, states: "The Kraków Method emphasizes the need to stimulate the development of a healthy child while simultaneously correcting various functional, acquired, congenital, and genetic disorders. It is based on the neurobiological premise that the capacity to form new synapses never ceases and depends entirely on the experiences provided to the individual."

Paulina Szkolnik – Bilingualism in Children

The "Czytam i mówię po polsku" online bookstore supports children, parents, and teachers of bilingual children living outside Poland on their journey toward bilingualism by providing valuable educational materials for learning Polish as a foreign language.

Bilingualism in children from a speech therapist's perspective
October marked the celebration of Polish Diaspora Bilingualism Day. From a speech therapist's point of view, is it easy for Polish children living in the UK to achieve bilingualism?

Bilingualism offers immense developmental potential for a child; however, it is crucial that it be consciously supported and guided by parents. Nowadays, parents are increasingly seeking answers to pressing questions regarding their child's language development. Unfortunately, specialists still frequently provide conflicting information or advice based on myths rather than scientific data. In my experience, achieving full bilingualism is by no means simple for many Polish or mixed-heritage families living in the UK and elsewhere.

To begin with, it is worth addressing the terminology and considering how bilingualism is defined and what it actually entails.

I will cite the definition I rely on: “bilingualism is the command of two languages ​​and the regular switching from one language to another depending on the communicative situation” (W. Rozencwajg). The word “switching” (or “code-switching”) is key here.

Bilingualism itself takes two forms: classical bilingualism and first-generation bilingualism. We must also remember that many families are multilingual; here, we distinguish between classical multilingualism and a form of multilingualism that excludes the child from the community.

Parents often—unintentionally and acting on flawed advice from teachers or specialists—choose to communicate in only one language (i.e., the language of the surrounding environment, English), thereby depriving the child of the opportunity to develop Polish and the chance to become bilingual.

So, how should a bilingual child’s language system be fostered? We can look to the OPOL approach—"One Parent, One Language"—whereby each parent speaks to the child in their own language (e.g., a Polish-speaking mother speaks Polish to the child, while an English-speaking father speaks English).

Let us remember that language is not merely a collection of words; it is grounded in grammatical rules and shaped by emotional and cultural nuances. That is why it is so important to dedicate as much time as possible to the child’s exposure to Polish—speaking, conversing, reading, playing, and learning in Polish; all of this will have a significant impact on the development of the Polish language and the achievement of full bilingualism in the future.

What problems arise on the path to achieving bilingualism?

Based on the approach I use, it is important to emphasize that the issue of assessing language proficiency levels is psychological in nature.

Various obstacles may arise on the path to bilingualism:

● Parents often compare their children to children in their home country, rationalizing language deficits by noting that children back home make similar mistakes.

● Parents combine the vocabulary from both languages ​​into one, creating an incorrect linguistic hybrid.

● Attributing language difficulties solely to bilingualism. We must not forget that bilingual children can experience developmental issues. They, too, can be affected by dyslexia, phonemic hearing impairments, delayed lateralization, or developmental disorders. Parents often delay starting therapy, attributing the delays to bilingualism.

● A lack of opportunities to acquire the language through everyday situations and contexts.

It is worth noting that consistency on the part of parents in using the native language—as well as showing mutual respect for the languages ​​used at home—is crucial.

Do bilingual children start speaking later than their peers who use only one language on a daily basis? There are no indications or studies suggesting delayed speech development in bilingual children. Of course, proper language stimulation—meaning the consistent use of Polish in various everyday situations—is crucial. With such stimulation, the child's speech develops normally.

Language development in a child's mind begins as early as the prenatal stage. 

It is precisely then, based on auditory and sensory experiences, that the child begins to distinguish the prosody of their native languages. A child is born with a sensitivity to the language spoken by their parents.

When should parents of a bilingual child consult a speech therapist?

Whenever they have any doubts regarding their child's speech stimulation.

What are the three most important pieces of advice you can offer parents who want to raise a bilingual child?
1. Parental consistency is paramount.

2. Bilingualism is immense potential, a gift, a treasure—always remember the benefits that come with bilingualism.

3. Speak Polish to your child.

How can parents support the learning of Polish as a foreign language and foster bilingualism?
If you are looking for valuable resources for learning Polish as a foreign language, we invite you to visit our "I Speak Polish" section, where you will find:

Speech therapy aids – proven speech therapy resources for bilingual children of various ages that support Polish language development.

Rhymes and games – proven games and rhymes that support the Polish language and speech development through play.

Picture stories – specialized materials recommended for speech therapists, teachers, and parents working with bilingual children.

The Kraków Method – materials for speech therapists, specialists, and parents using the methods developed by Prof. Jagoda Cieszyńska.

Our online bookstore has tested numerous speech therapy materials and books. Drawing on our collaboration with Polish schools abroad, speech therapists, and specialists, we have created a unique range of products specifically tailored to the needs of bilingual children learning Polish outside of Poland.

For bilingual children, we also recommend the following series, which have proven highly effective in working with children:

Pucio and the *Uczę się mówić* (I Learn to Speak) series
Jano i Wito
*Słucham i uczę się mówić* (I Listen and Learn to Speak)
*Ładnie i składnie* (Speaking Clearly and Coherently)