Language is a skill that is innate in every human. No matter what environment a child is brought up in, they have the capability to learn a language, and in many cases, two languages before starting school. In Québec, many families have one parent who speaks French and one parent who speaks English.  Other families have one parent who speaks French or English and another parent who speaks a different language.  Even if English, French, or another language is the only language spoken at home, a child can be exposed to a second language depending on the neighborhood where the family lives, or the daycare that the child attends.

Some parents, caregivers, and even teachers might think that exposing a child to several languages at a young age can confuse them and delay their learning of another language. Dr. Fred Genesee, Professor of Psychology at McGill University, has completed research and compiled data on learning two languages from an early age. Here are some conclusions and guidelines for parents based on current research.  

It’s estimated that more children worldwide are growing up learning two languages than those who are learning only one language. No scientific study has ever shown that a young child’s brain is wired to learn only one language. According to research, children who learn two languages simultaneously  go through the same language-learning stages and progress at the same rate as children who learn only one language. For example, they begin to say their first words or first sentences within the same time frame.

It is true that there can sometimes be certain differences in bilingual language development. For instance, bilingual children may have a vocabulary that is a little more limited in each language.  However, if we consider their total conceptual vocabulary (sum of vocabulary they know in either language), their vocabulary is similar to their peers.