How to learn a new language as a family

BarcelonaMultilingualism is a reality that grows year after year due to phenomena such as immigration, tourism, and international mobility. Studies on multilingualism argue that families should maintain their own family language, because it conveys a wealth of family heritage that has social and emotional value. However, they should also incorporate the language of their place of residence into their repertoire as a first step toward integration and equal living. But how can this be done? How can a language (of any kind) be introduced into the family? And how is this done in the case of a minority language—like Catalan—that lacks the regulatory power of a state? Anna Solé Mena, who published Multilingual from the cradle (UOC, 2010), helps us outline five essential steps to adding a language at home.

1. Contact: People learn the language they need. Opportunities must be created where young people and adults experience Catalan and have to speak it (at school, at work, etc.). Exposure opens a space for knowledge and, at the same time, for the need to immerse themselves in the new language. If schools serve this purpose for young people, adults should find alternative spaces, such as an adult language group or language partner, because sharing learning with other adults builds trust.
2. EnjoymentBeyond necessity, it's beneficial for activities conducted in the language you want to introduce to be fun, engaging, and enjoyable, whether for the activity itself or for the company you do it with—that is, for the connections you build. Therefore, it's important for the language to be used in informal settings, both for young people (leisure, entertainment, and networking) and for adults (cultural activities and social and civic groups).
3. MotivationAttitude works wonders. If the family is aware and communicates that it's important to acquire the language—because it will give you a better future, because it will integrate you into a community, because it will make you more friends, because it will give you more interests, more money—the child will understand that this is in their best interest and will be more receptive. If the adult learns the language, the child will adopt it more easily.
4. InclusionThe community must offer linguistically welcoming spaces to newcomers, both formal and informal. In our case, the first step is to speak in Catalan, as an act of welcome, not exclusion.Linguistic convergence to Spanish is a counterproductive habit). Experts say that the language knowledge of some newcomers (especially if they also have minority family languages, such as Amazigh or Punjabi) has an effect on the recognition of Catalan as a mirror effectThe more they integrate socially into families, the more they will grasp the local language.
5. Do not be afraid"Catalan is learned by living it. You don't have to speak it perfectly to start using it," says Anna Solé Mena. It's easy to start in everyday life, in stores, at school, with simple, repetitive phrases ("Good morning," "How are you?", "Thank you"). There's no need to be afraid of mixing languages at first, or of asking for help, because Catalan speakers respond very well to the effort of speaking their language and will understand you perfectly.