If neither parents speaks the language at home, this will not affect how your child learns a language since all children are in a sensitive period for a second language up until about 10-12 years old. However, when there is no representative of that language in the home environment, it simply takes longer to acquire the language. IMS provides enough language acquisition support at school that it should not be a problem if the parents do not speak French or Spanish. There are ways you can help even if you do not speak the second language. You can support your child by asking questions and being interested and involved in what (s)he learns. It is important not to be too demanding or have unrealistic expectations because every child develops at his/her own pace.

Parents who commit to a language immersion education are encouraged to help their child further develop his native language. It is extremely important for you to continuously speak the native language to your child and to help him make the connection between his native language and the second language. For instance, you should provide him with native language vocabulary for the subject(s) that are taught in the second language and take him to cultural events. You also should have the child use his native language on a regular basis, especially if your family lives in a country where the native language is not spoken outside of the school.

Parental support throughout the educational process is the most important way to help your child learn the second language. You should place an equal amount of importance on both languages concerning grades and homework.  Continually demonstrate to your child how curious you are about what he is learning. Simple things can be done that will go a long way in reinforcing the second language. Relate the language learning to fun experiences. Immerse your child in the second language through an activity that (s)he particularly enjoys is a great way to reinforce his second language. This can be accomplished by establishing close friends and playmates for your child who speak the second language natively. You can invite a native-speaking friend for a play date. Your child would also benefit tremendously from visiting the friend’s house where the language is spoken natively. If your child develops close bonds with these native-speaking children, it reinforces the language in a fun environment with a positive learning experience. Our summer camps can also be very helpful for reinforcing the language, especially over long breaks. Camps to consider include theater camps or those taking place in a country where your child’s second language is the native language. Traveling in a foreign country is also a good experience for the child, especially when your child can serve the important role of translator for the family. Watching videotapes in the second language will also help reinforce the language and assist with the learning process. Most DVDs allow you to choose the language you watch the movie in.