In this accessible guide to bilingualism in the family and the classroom, Colin Baker delivers a realistic picture of the joys and difficulties of raising bilingual children. The Q&A format of this book makes it the natural choice for the busy parent or teacher who needs an easy reference guide to the most frequently asked questions. This revised edition includes more information on bilingualism in the digital age, and incorporates the latest research in areas such as neonatal language experience, multilingualism, language mixing and the effect that siblings have on family language choice.

4th edition of an easily-accessible, inspiring read which equips parents with the confidence and knowledge they need to make raising and teaching bilingual children a success

About the Author

Colin Baker is Emeritus Professor of Education at Bangor University. He has three bilingual children and has given talks for over 20 years to parents and teachers on bilingualism. His many publications on bilingualism include Foundations of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism, which has been translated into Japanese, Spanish, Latvian, Greek and Mandarin and is now in its 5th edition (2011).

Reviews

Baker's well-organised and informative writing is relevant to the parents and teachers of ANY bilingual child - he carefully considers issues from every angle, not just the norm. An easily-accessible, inspiring read which arms us with the confidence to make raising and teaching our bilingual children a success!

-- Cheryl Sanchez, The Bilingual Bookshop, www.thebilingualbookshop.com

This is the number one resource for any parent in a multilingual family. This revised edition is now even better than before with new sections on the latest developments (e.g. the internet, stuttering and translanguaging) and the great question and answer format allows you to read as much or as little as you want - a boon for busy parents. The text is written in a very straightforward style and is accessible, practical and the recommendations are feasible for almost all families. Nonetheless, years of study and personal experience feed into the text which is subtly nuanced and emotionally intelligent. If you are only going to buy one book, this is the one you should buy.

-- Claire Thomas, Waltham Forest Bilingual Group, UK

Sound advice given with erudition and simplicity is hard to come by. Once again Baker has put his encyclopedic knowledge on bilingualism to the service of parents and teachers. Every parent and teacher, no matter their circumstances, will feel their needs addressed in the sensible and generous information and guidance that Baker provides in this book.

-- Ofelia Garcia, City University of New York, USA



Book Information
ISBN 9781783091591
Author Colin Baker
Format Paperback
Page Count 288
Imprint Multilingual Matters
Publisher Channel View Publications Ltd
Weight(grams) 460g
Dimensions(mm) 225mm * 170mm * 15mm