This best-selling guide is illustrated by glimpses of bilingual life through interviews with fifty families from around the world. The trials and rewards of life with two languages and cultures are discussed in detail, followed by practical advice on how to support the child's linguistic development. Features of this second edition include: new and updated Internet resources information on the specific problems facing teenagers, and guidance on how to resolve them new research into language acquisition new and updated first-hand advice and examples throughout.

Table of Contents

Preface Acknowledgements 1. Families with Two Languages Background Mixed Language Families and Intercultural Marriage Minority Language Families 2. Expecting a Child in a Bilingual Home What do you Want for Your Child? Making Plans Be Prepared! 3. The Family Language System Developing a System One Person - One Language One Language - One Location (minority languages at home 'Artificial' bilingualism 4. Language Development Active and Passive Languages Interference and Mixing The Crictical Period Hypothesis 5. The Child with Two Languages Advantages and Disadvantages of Two Languages for the Child Being Different Day-Care and School 6. Practical Parenting in a Bilingual Home Help your Child to Make the Most of the Situation Things to do at Home 7. Competence in Two Cultures Access to Two Cultures Religion Achieving Cultural Competence 8. Problems you may Encounter Quality of Input Semilingualism Changed Circumstances Children with Special Needs 9. The Way Ahead Motivation Teenagers Grown-up Children Advice from Other Parents Conclusion Appendix A: Organising a Workshop on Raising Children with Two Languages Appendix B: Ways to Support a Child's Development in Two Languages Parent and Children Group Minority Language Play-School Saturday School Appendix C: Documenting a Child's Linguistic Development Vocabulary Length of Utterance Language Mixing Pronunciation Appendix D: Internet Resources Web Sites Meeting Places Locating Material Notes Glossary Bibliography Index

Author Biography

Una Cunningham-Andersson is a Senior Lecturer in English language and linguistics at Dalarna University in Falun, Sweden. Staffan Andersson teaches computing. They are raising their four children to speak English and Swedish in Sweden.