Books of interest about bilingualism
by Suzanne Romaine Since it was first published in 1989, Suzanne Romaine’s book has been recognized as the most authoritative introduction to the sociolinguistics of bilingualism. The new edition has been completely revised to incorporate recent work in this fast developing field. Throughout the book, bilingualism is seen as both a societal and cognitive phenomenon.
by Suzanne Barron-Hauwaert This book focuses on the one parent one language/one person one language (OPOL) approach and covers issues that can come up in some detail. It is very practical and offers parents specific advice or options. For example, it is the only book that we are aware of, apart from Colin Baker’s see
by Naomi Steiner The best time to learn a second language is as a child. During childhood, the brain is more receptive to language learning than at any other time in life. Aware that a second language can enrich their children’s understanding of other cultures and bring future job opportunities in a world drawn ever
by Jim Cummins As linguistic diversity increases in countries all around the world, policy-makers and educators are faced with complex and conflicting issues regarding appropriate ways of educating a multilingual school population. This volume reviews the research and theory relating to instruction and assessment of bilingual pupils, focusing not only on issues of language learning
by Colin Baker If you are just starting out and want a general introduction, this is the best book by an academic or expert (who, in fact, is also a parent in a multilingual family). It is very practical, comprehensive and detailed. It is written in the form of questions and answers which are all
by Francois Grosjean Many people consider bilinguals to be exceptional, yet almost half the world’s population speaks more than one language. Bilingualism is found in every country of the world, in every class of society, in all age groups. Life with Two Languages is the first book to provide a complete and authoritative look at the nature
by Deryn Hall, Dominic Griffiths, Liz Haslam and Yvonne Wilkin (Resource Materials for Teachers) Offering ways for teachers to consider why some bilingual pupils are not making progress or are academically underachieving, this book looks at ways of asking questions about the pupil and collecting evidence of both learning and language development. The second edition
by Barbara Zurer Pearson This book provides parents with information, encouragement, and practical advice for creating a positive bilingual environment. It offers both an overview of why parents should raise their children to speak more than one language and detailed steps parents can take to integrate two languages into their children’s daily routine. Available to borrow
by Charmian Kenner An accessible, and inspiring book about children learning to read and write in different languages. The examples used are English children also learning Spanish, Arabic and Chinese. Thus covering different alphabets, writing right to left as well as left to right and a character based language. Available to borrow at the Limes.
by Stephen J. Caldas This book is a longitudinal case study carefully detailing the French/English bilingual and biliterate development of three children in one family beginning with their births and ending in late adolescence. The book focuses most specifically on the children’s acquisition of French and English during their early through late adolescence, in both
by George Saunders This is another accessible book that tells the story of one family raising children bilingually in English and German in Australia. It quotes parts of relevant conversations and discusses how the children’s views change over time. Although this family is one where neither parent is a native German speaker (George, the father,
by Tracey Tokuhama-Espinoza Evaluates the most recent research in linguistics, neurology, education, and psychology and reinterprets the findings in an easy-to-follow format. Case studies illustrate the many ways families combine ten key factors in order to successfully raise multilingual children. The book encourages parents and teachers to reflect on their personal situations and helps them
by Iram Siraj-Blatchford and Priscilla Clarke This book provides the main ingredients for professional development in working with young children in a diverse society. It fills the gap that most early years training neglects, that is, how to work with children in developing a positive disposition towards themselves regardless of their differences.Available to borrow at
by Madelena Cruz-Ferreira This is quite a short book (89 pages) that sets out the common myths or widely held views about multilingualism. The author then uses her specialist knowledge of the field to poke fun and those that are without foundation. For those who are interested in more depth, it is a bit frustrating
by Kendall King and Alison Mackey Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language. It’s no secret that parents want their children to have the lifelong cultural and intellectual advantages that come from being bilingual. Parents spend millions of dollars every year on classes, computer programs, and toys, all of which promise
by Xiao-Lei Wang This book is for parents who live in a foreign country and intend to raise their children in their own heritage language(s). It offers helpful suggestions for this challenging situation and provides useful strategies in the daily interactions between parents and children. Available to borrow at the Limes.
by Edith Harding-Esch and Philip Riley A handbook for parents who might be considering bringing up their children as bilinguals. Available to borrow at the Limes.
by Una Cunningham-Andersson and Staffan Andersson This is an easy to read book based on the experience of a Swedish/English family living in Sweden (and written by the parents in this bilingual family). It covers many of the common issues and concerns and the authors talked to a number of other multilingual families so it
by Li Wei This is a comprehensive collection of the classics in the study of bilingualism. Designed as a structured student reader, it covers: definitions and typology of bilingualism language choice and bilingual interaction grammar of codeswitching and bilingual acquisition the bilingual brain and bilingual production and perception methodological issues in the study of bilingualism. Available
Reflections on Multilingual Childhoods By Claire Thomas Primarily aimed as a practical resource for parents, but also of interest to students and researchers because of its unique content, it includes recollections and advice on many of the common issues or dilemmas that arise in multilingual families. A team at WFGB interviewed 50 adults about their