Resources

Language development

The Fédération des parents francophones de Colombie-Britannique (FPFCB) is pleased to introduce a range of resources and references about bilingual language development in young children living in minority settings. 

Resources Overview

Information is grouped under different topic headings, including the optimal age for learning a second language, the importance of reading in language development, stages of language development, types of bilingualism, how best to correct your child’s errors, and a comparison between Francophone schools and French immersion schools.

Resources by Subject

Bilingualism

Daily Situations

Developmental and Language Difficulties

School and the Education System

Importance of Oral Expression

Importance of Reading

Promoting French (The 4 Rs)

The Role of Parents

Resources by Age Group

Before Birth

0 to 6 Months

6 to 12 Months

12 to 18 Months

18 to 24 Months

24 to 36 Months

36 to 48 Months

48 to 60 Months

EN VEDETTE: The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain

Questions and testimonials

Take part in enriching this site by sharing your experiences, comments or questions with the community via info@fpfcb.bc.ca.

Frequently Asked Questions

Specialists are unanimous in their opinion: exposing a child to two languages from birth is the best way for the child to become bilingual. In fact, this language exposure can even begin during pregnancy! Read more on this question under the heading Should One Expose a Child to Two Languages From Birth?
If English is the language of communication at home and the language of the majority in the surrounding society, this behaviour is normal. For information and strategies on how to deal with this situation, read the section The Child Responds in English When We Talk to Him in French – What Should We Do?
Mixing languages is quite normal. “Code switching”  is a normal stage of bilingual development that will decrease with age, as the child begins to differentiate between the two sets of language-specific rules and enriches his/her vocabulary. Find out more under the heading Mixing Languages (Code Switching) – Should I be concerned?

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