Why speaking your first language at home is important

Elsa Chahin, Infant & Toddler Consultant, shares advice on the great value of talking to your child in your home language if it is different than English
Parenting Tips | Why Speaking Your First Language At Home Is Important
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Why speaking your first language at home is important

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Let's talk about the great value of talking to your child in your home language when there is another language outside of the home. For example, if you moved to the United States and you're a Spanish speaker, most likely, your English will not be as good as an English speaker. You want to expose your child to your home language because your language isn't like a set of syllables, it comes together with a culture. You are exposing your child to your culture, to your traditions. He needs to have a sense of belonging to that culture. You need to maintain your culture. You want your child to be able to meet his grandparents and be able to communicate with them. Then when you he is exposed to the rest of the world, when he goes outside of the home, and goes to school, that's where he will learn the second language. He will learn it with native speakers of that language. He will learn English without an accent. You want to be able to give him that gift. You want to be able to give him the gift of his home language and be able to learn the second language through his environment.

Elsa Chahin, Infant & Toddler Consultant, shares advice on the great value of talking to your child in your home language if it is different than English

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Elsa Chahin

Mom and Infant & Toddler Consultant

Elsa Chahin was born in Mexico City and grew up in both the United States and Mexico, feeling at home with both cultures. She is a RIE (Resources for Infant Educarers) Associate, and PITC (Program for Infant Toddler Care) Trainer, working with professionals and parents of babies zero to three. She is a UCLA Certified Lactation Educator; as a Certified Interpreter-Translator, she collaborated in the translation into Spanish of Magda Gerber’s book Your Self Confident Baby and translated and narrated Magda Gerber’s videos “See How They Move“ and “Seeing Infant With New Eyes”, and the audio guide for caregivers.  Elsa is a Certified Teacher of English as a Second Language, passing her Proficiency in English exams at Cambridge and Oxford Universities.  She studied In Budapest, Hungary under the tutelage of Anna Tardos, Dr. Emmi Pikler’s daughter. She has authored several articles and speaks nationally and internationally on the topic of caring for babies with respect.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the Pikler/Loczy Fund USA. Before embarking in her career in infant development, she was a professional ballerina who continues to teach dance to little ones. Above of all, she is a joyous mom!

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Transcription: 
Let's talk about the great value of talking to your child in your home language when there is another language outside of the home. For example, if you moved to the United States and you're a Spanish speaker, most likely, your English will not be as good as an English speaker. You want to expose your child to your home language because your language isn't like a set of syllables, it comes together with a culture. You are exposing your child to your culture, to your traditions. He needs to have a sense of belonging to that culture. You need to maintain your culture. You want your child to be able to meet his grandparents and be able to communicate with them. Then when you he is exposed to the rest of the world, when he goes outside of the home, and goes to school, that's where he will learn the second language. He will learn it with native speakers of that language. He will learn English without an accent. You want to be able to give him that gift. You want to be able to give him the gift of his home language and be able to learn the second language through his environment.