Fostering Multilingualism in the United States

In a country where English is the dominant language, the preservation of a second language—be it Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, or any other language—usually requires more than just exposure to such language; it demands a deep commitment to cultural heritage and identity. As a multilingual speech-language pathologist, I’ve witnessed the challenges that come with raising bilingual children in a society that prioritizes English. The societal pressures can be overwhelming, leading many to believe that English is the only language worth mastering, or finding it truly challenging to maintain the minority language alive within a culture that prioritizes the dominant language.

The loss of a second language isn’t just the loss of words; it’s the erosion of culture, history, and identity. A second language is more than a means of communication—it is a vessel carrying traditions, stories, and values that connect families and communities across generations. When a second language fades from our homes, we are not just losing a language, we are losing a part of ourselves, a part of our identity and cultural richness that is irreplaceable.

Throughout my 20s and even now, I’ve continued to meet countless individuals who express deep regret at the fact that they don’t speak their family’s native language, often losing a crucial part of their heritage in the process.

Because we live in a society that frequently undermines minority languages, whether it be intentional or not, children from a very young age begin internalizing that English is the only language that should be valued.

Additionally, parents in the United States often prioritize English because they’ve been advised by professionals it would best support their child’s overall development—especially if their child has a speech and/or language impairment. Wrongfully so. Unfortunately, much of this advice is rooted in myths and is actually hurtful to the child and family. Given misinformation, a lack of resources, combined with a lack of support needed to help your child fully activate a second language, we may find our children are mostly comfortable speaking in their society’s dominant language as time goes on.

This brings me back to my initial point: becoming multilingual in the United States requires more than just exposure. Multilingualism demands intentionality, support, and the right tools to navigate the challenges that come with maintaining a minority language in an English-dominant society.

Setting Clear Expectations and Goals: A Key to Preserving Our Heritage

In the face of societal pressures that often elevate English as superior, maintaining a second language is hard. The challenges are real, and as parents and guardians of our children’s future, I know many of us don’t want our children to experience what commonly occurs in bilingual children in the U.S. — a loss of their heritage language.

One way to support you and your family in preserving a second language is by setting clear expectations and goals. How much easier is it for you to achieve a goal if you know what that goal is? For example, if you want to learn a second language, you become intentional in finding ways to learn it. But let’s just pretend that someone else close to you sets that goal for you, finding opportunities for you to use and practice the language, yet you aren’t even aware that it’s a goal of yours? I think this is where we can miss an opportunity with our children.

When we establish goals for children without their understanding or involvement, we do them—and ourselves—a huge disservice. Without knowing the goal, children lack the buy-in and empowerment needed to truly succeed. This can lead to frustration on both sides, with more time and energy spent on a goal that could be accomplished more efficiently if we approached it as a team, with clear communication and explicit teaching.

To help your child make the most of their language learning journey, I suggest you start by choosing a time that you already spend together with your child. This could be during dinner time, story time, or even by adding 30 minutes of playtime. But don’t think of it as sitting down with textbooks—no. A child learns best through fun and play; research supports this.

Focus on functional language—phrases like "my turn" or "your turn"—that naturally fit into daily routines. Reflect on the language you used as a child growing up or the language you wished you had known, and incorporate that language into your interactions. Model these well-used phrases during functional parts of your routines, and make the learning process as natural and enjoyable as possible.

By setting specific, achievable goals and involving your child in the process, you’re giving them a roadmap to success. When children understand what is expected of them, they become more intentional in their efforts. They’ll recognize that practicing their second language isn’t just a suggestion—it’s a priority. This clarity helps them stay focused and motivated, making them more likely to put in the effort needed to improve.

Involving your child in setting their own language goals can further increase their commitment. Ask them what they’d like to achieve with their language skills. Maybe they want to be able to chat with cousins or grandparents, or perhaps they’re excited about the idea of traveling to a country where the language is spoken and communicating with locals. Whatever their goal, acknowledging it and working together to achieve it will empower them to take ownership of their language learning. If they can’t come up with a strong why, then you can help foster the why within them, showing them why it’s so valuable.

Conclusion: Embracing a Second Language, Embracing Our Identity

Preserving a second, or even a third or fourth, language within our homes is about much more than just maintaining fluency—it’s about keeping our culture alive, ensuring that our children grow up with a strong sense of identity, and preventing the deep regret that comes from losing touch with our roots.

Let’s empower our children not just to learn a second language, but to live it, to cherish it, and to carry it forward with pride. Let’s give them the tools and the goals they need to not only succeed in a bilingual world, but to thrive in it, preserving the richness of our heritage for generations to come.