“Bilingualism does not cause language delays or learning difficulties.”
I found out about this book at an event on bilingualism with the author, Eowyn Crisfield. The session was organised by the publisher Multilingual Matters in mid-June 2024. It was a very informative and practical session for parents wanting to raise their children bilingually.
The event started by introducing Eowyn Crisfield, who is from Canada. She has lived for some time in the Netherlands and now resides in the UK. She is a specialist on bilingualism both through her education (she holds a PhD in Applied Linguistics) and experience (both as a multilingual parent to her three children and a consultant to bilingual families). The session covered many interesting topics including some myths about bilingualism, e.g. that children are like sponges. Eowyn used interesting, sometimes funny examples, to discuss bilingualism and to answer questions from the audience. It was a lively event, relaxed and positive. I think we could feel the wealth of experience and knowledge behind Eowyn’s answers.
I think the above is a good introduction to the book itself. It’s a practical guidebook for parents who want to plan their family’s bilingual journey, and consciously decide how to achieve their language-related goals. It contains practical knowledge, case studies, resources and also hands-on activities. I think it’s an excellent publication for families starting their journey with bilingualism, but also for those who struggle with the bilingualism of their family and are looking for some inspiration, motivation and advice.
Have you read Eowyn Crisfield’s book? What’s your favourite piece of advice? Please let me know in the comments below.
Kinga