How to incorporate the minority language into your busy schedule

“Sometimes I forget to speak the minority language…” Does that sound familiar? Well, I know a ton of moms (myself included) who can identify with this from time to time. You have the best intentions, try so hard to speak the minority language to your kid all the time only to catch yourself responding in the majority language when you are juggling three tasks at once. Sometimes it also happens when we have to repeat ourselves multiple times because our kid decides to simply ignore what was said: Kommst du mal her?…Kannst du bitte mal herkommen? … I said come here please! Now! You get the picture. Sometimes it’s just hard to keep the minority language up when we are stressed or simply fully immersed in the majority language ourselves.

For example, I speak English (our majority language) on the job, with my husband, friends, and almost anybody else here in the United States. So in the heat of the moment, I sometimes use English out of habit, even though I try to make it a point to only use German around Ella. But then, is “slipping” really bad? I don’t think so! I think it is absolutely human…and on a positive note, it shows our children that it is okay to use all of your languages.

But although we may need to cut ourselves some slack from time to time (yes, hey, raising bilingual children is quite a project!), we obviously want and do need to maximize our children’s exposure to the minority language.

10 ideas on how to incorporate the minority language into your (busy) daily lives

So here is a cheat sheet with 10 ideas on how to incorporate the minority language into your (busy) daily lives and also how to remind yourself to use the minority language as much as possible:

#1: Use post-its (on the fridge, on closet doors) as little reminders to yourself to use the minority language.

#2: Set the controls in your phone, TV, computer etc. to the minority language.

#3: Keep books in the minority language around the house.

#4: Regularly explain and talk (in the minority language) about things as you do them (just careful to not carry that habit over into the next business meeting).

#5: Keep music or radio on in the background (Alexa does the trick for us–she offers WDR2, a German radio station!)

#6: Make occasional use of TV, DVD, or online videos to provide supplemental exposure (Peppa Wutz and Biene Maja are current favorites in our house).

#7: Have games or toys handy (e.g., Bath foam letters for the tub; letter magnets for the fridge) and play with your kids whenever possible (e.g., while you are cooking).

#8: Listen to audiobooks or plays together (Benjamin Blümchen is a hit when I’m jogging with Ella in the stroller)

#9: Skype or FaceTime with relatives or friends regularly (we talk to my mother 3-4 times a week–even if it’s just for 5 min)

#10: Switch off all electronic devices and just spend quality time with your kid… and the minority language will probably kick in automatically!

The last one (#10) may sound obvious but sometimes it just helps to take a step back from all of the hustle and bustle of our lives and spend quality time together (no text messages, no calls, no TV etc). Nothing else will promote children’s language as much as talking and reading with them. Also, it may help us as parents to re-charge our batteries from time to time.

Do you have additional ideas or suggestions? Please leave a comment!!