Challenge #2: Play Background Music Regularly
Aug 9, 2014 12:04:50 GMT 9
Post by Adam Beck on Aug 9, 2014 12:04:50 GMT 9
One easy and effective way to increase exposure to the minority language is to make a habit of playing background music in your home (and car). And I don't mean necessarily interacting with your children and singing along, though such times would naturally be quite helpful to your bilingual goal.
I simply mean putting a CD player or other music device in the room where your children tend to play, acquiring a collection of suitable children's music in your target language, and playing this music regularly in the background as you go about your other business. Of course, this strategy alone won't produce active ability, but combined with a range of other, more interactive efforts, a steady stream of background music can definitely help boost a child's language development while deepening his interest in the language and culture.
Playing music (as well as audio versions of stories and poetry) has been a persistent part of my efforts with my kids since the time they were born. When we're at home or in the car, I make a point of playing music in our minority language. This doesn't mean music is a continuous feature of our lifestyle--quiet time is important, too--but when it's appropriate, I regularly reach for a CD to provide this additional language exposure. Day after day, such input amasses substantially over time and can't help but have a very positive impact.
Here are my posts at Bilingual Monkeys related to the use of music...
- How the Power of Music Nurtures Bilingual Ability
- Recommended Resources: Great Music for Kids (and Parents, too!)
- Recommended Resources: Great Christmas Music
- Recommended Resources: The Captivating Songs and Stories of Bill Harley
- Recommended Resources: The Quirky Work of Sandra Boynton
Your challenge this time is to make a habit of regularly playing music in the background, at home (and in the car) over the next two weeks. And if you lack music in your minority language, then that's part of your challenge, too: get more music that you think your kids will enjoy.
Then come back to this thread and share your experience! You may even happily hear, as I often do, your kids singing along by themselves!
Best of luck with this challenge! You can do it!
). We didn't know how much Sam takes in because he always plays around and everything, until a week ago, he roared when the lion does it in one of the songs! We were pretty impressed. 
