8

Question 1

How many children in the world are bilingual

Answer 1

2/3

Question 2

How many children in the uk are bilingual

Answer 2

39%

Question 3

Can children learn a second language quickly and effortlessly? what factor is critical.

Answer 3

Input is limited in each language.

Speed of language acquisition depends on amount of input in each language.

Question 4

Code-switching is an integral part of the multilingual language experience. True/False

Answer 4

True

Question 5

What is normal bilingual language development?

Answer 5

A big range of what is considered typical development!

difficult to decide whether there are reasons for concern (especially when a multilingual child appears to speak less English than other
children)

Question 6

Define sequential language learner

Answer 6

Learn one language after the other

Question 7

How determine language difficulty in a sequential language learner?

Answer 7

if the child is not

meeting early communication milestones in their first language

Question 8

How many years might it take for a sequential bilingual child to reach similar oral language
competency as a monolingual child.

How quickly do early language skills develop?

Answer 8

5-7 years

6months - 2years

Question 9

Research shows that acquiring two languages does not affect their (2)

Answer 9

cognitive and non-cognitive skills of young children, such as their
ability to recognise objects, match pictures, or their responsiveness
and behaviour in everyday situations.

Question 10

Research shows that acquiring two languages does temporarily affect their (1)

although this disappears before the age of xx

Answer 10

It does temporarily affect their knowledge of vocabulary in the second
language.

this disadvantage disappears before the age of five

Question 11

Strategies for parents to support their multilingual child

Answer 11

Read often - use picture books or tell stories.

Play in first language

Sing songs in first language

Question 12

Multilingual milestones
Receptive language
0-2months

Answer 12

Recognition and preference for native language(s) as well

as mother’s voice

Question 13

Multilingual milestones
Receptive language
2-5months

Answer 13

Can categorize speech sounds, recognize syllables, and

detect changes in intonation.

Question 14

Multilingual milestones
Receptive language
5-8months

Answer 14

5-8 months: Preference for ‘parentese.’ Has categorized the vowels of
the native tongue(s)

Question 15

Multilingual milestones Receptive language

8-12 months:

Answer 15

8-12 months: Starts to link objects to sounds

Question 16

Multilingual milestones

12-24months

Answer 16

12-24 months: The second year is all about words and linking words to
objects. Just as with monolinguals, this is a highly individual phase à
lots of variation in children’s progress

Question 17

Multilingual milestones

24-36months

Answer 17

24-36 months: Now the child is sorting out the grammar and increasing
the vocabulary by leaps and bounds. She may be slightly delayed

Question 18

How does brain categorise speech sounds?

Answer 18

‘use it or lose it’

The brain effectively prunes out the neighboring, similar sounds and
creates highly distinct ‘buckets’ for the sounds of the native language(s)

Question 19

Cross cultural study: German/English vowel production at 10months

Answer 19

As early as 10 months: distinct differences in their sounds can be detected. English speakers produce more “eeh” vowels, while German babies produce more vowels with pursed lips like in “über” etc.

Question 20

Why should parents speak first language to child? (3)

Answer 20

Parents provide optimal linguistc stimulation for their child and support cultural identity by speaking their home language

Children with a strong first language base learn a second language more easily

Preschool children with strong language skills in their first
language do better at school with reading and writing

Question 21

Why is assessing multilingual children difficult? (4)

Answer 21

Most standardised tests are normed to monolingual speakers, therefore,
although informative to a degree, are not conclusive

Items on the test may not be applicable or appropriate across cultures

to obtain an accurate picture of the individual, all
their languages should be tested. The comparability of the tests in
different languages is important.

Acceptability of language mixing and switching during the testing
sessions and consequent decisions about scoring