Home languages and English: you do not have to choose
If English is a new language for your child, the most useful thing you can do is keep talking, reading and telling stories in the language you know best, and add English gently.
The short version
- Keep your language
- Speak, read, sing and tell stories in the language you know best. It does not hold English back.
- Add English gently
- Songs, picture books, games and short daily talk. No pressure.
- Tell the school
- Tell them every language your child speaks and what they can already read.
Keep using your home language
Children who are learning English alongside another language are not behind. They are doing something hard and valuable. Stories, songs, jokes and everyday talk in your home language build vocabulary, understanding and confidence that carry over into English. The Bell Foundation, a charity that works on English as an additional language in schools, advises early years settings to learn about each child's home language and to give children chances to hear and use it (guiding principles for early years practitioners).
Mixing languages in a sentence is normal for bilingual children. It is not a sign of confusion.
How to help with English at home
- Talk about what they are learning in whichever language is easiest, then teach the English words for it.
- Read together in your home language and in English. Bilingual picture books can help; ask your local library.
- Listen to English stories. Our listening pages have recorded stories. Listening first, then reading, works well.
- Sing. Songs and rhymes give children chunks of natural English without effort. See our guide to songs, rhymes and stories.
- Do not worry about accent. Clear communication matters more than a perfect accent.
- Use short, regular practice on our free pages, for example reading practice. Sit beside younger children.
Working with the school
- Tell the school all the languages your child speaks and which they read and write.
- Ask how the school will check your child's English and what support they will get.
- Ask how you can help at home, and whether the school has bilingual books or a translation service.
- If your child's English is just starting, ask for a gentle welcome: a buddy, pictures, and time to listen before speaking.
Teachers can find practical ideas in our guide to teaching EAL learners.
Is it SEND?
Not usually. The SEND Code of Practice says that identifying special educational needs for children whose first language is not English requires particular care, and that difficulties related solely to limitations in English as an additional language are not SEN (paragraph 6.24). Schools should look at how a child is doing in different areas to work out whether slow progress is down to English or something else. If you are worried, ask. See SEND support.
Questions
Will speaking our language at home confuse my child?
No. Children can learn more than one language. Clear, regular talk in the language you know best is good for them and for you.
Should I speak English at home even if mine is not good?
It is better to speak the language you are most fluent in and tell stories well. You can add English through songs, books and shared activities.
How long does it take to learn English?
It varies a lot. Everyday talk often comes sooner than the English needed for reading and writing about school subjects, which usually takes longer. Do not compare your child with others.
Where can my child practise for free?
Our practice pages are free with no login. Younger children should have a grown-up nearby.