image credit: sinews

As many of you know, we did a great deal of research while developing our catalogue of bilingual books. One amazing resource we’ve found is SINEWS, the Multilingual Therapy Institute in Madrid. You may already be familiar with SINEWS from the “Ask Sinews” section of our blog and newsletter, in which the experts from SINEWS answer your questions and doubts about bilingualism (click here for more information). But what you may not know is that Sinews also hosts interesting workshops for bilingual families in Madrid, which can be a great tool for those of you who live in the area. If you aren’t familiar with the workshops, please read on!

Do children who hear two languages from the time they are born speak later? Does bilingualism “confuse” children and can it be detrimental for your child’s intellectual development? When both parents speak both languages, is it better to use the “one parent one language” model or the “one home one language” model? What should I do if my child refuses to speak to me in the language I speak to him (which he used to use with no problems)? How can I reinforce the weaker language when my child is becoming increasingly proficient in the stronger language? One Friday per month SINEWS (Multilingual Therapy Institute in Madrid) will answer these questions and more for all parents who wish to participate in their workshops for bilingual families.

In “the cave” at Biblioketa in Madrid a small group of up to 10-12 parents meet together to learn more about bilingualism and share their experiences. Most of these parents already have children between the ages of 10 months and five years old who are growing up in multilingual and bicultural homes. Recently, the workshops have also seen an increase in Spanish parents with a high level of a foreign language, who would like to give their children the opportunity to become bilingual.

The debate is often heated and interesting: Which school should I choose? When should I teach my child to read in his second language?

At the end of the workshops, many parents exchange emails and organize activities with their children. It’s not always easy to find other families who share the same language combination, so this is a great opportunity.

This fall, SINEWS has added a few changes to the workshops:

-It seemed like it would be much more comfortable for parents to attend the first and second parts of the workshop in just one afternoon, so SINEWS decided to combine the two part course into one afternoon instead of two. These sessions will be held one Friday per month in the same place as always, the Biblioketa in Madrid (c/ Justiniano, 4, Metro Alonso Martínez). The first session begins at 4 pm and the second begins at 6 pm. Each session lasts an hour and a half.

-SINEWS has improved and increased the information packs it hands out to parents to include French and English after school activities, web pages with useful resources, a brief bibliography on childhood bilingualism and a calandar for normal language development.

-They have also tried to create a space for specific questions to be answered by the professionals at SINEWS (speech therapists and/or child psychiatrists) who give these courses, as well as a time for participants to share their common experiences.

The contents of the workshops are as follows:

BRINGING UP A CHILD WITH TWO LANGUAGES I
* What is bilingualism?
* Types of bilingualism
* Advantages and disadvantages of creating a family
that speaks two languages
* Things to consider before beginning:
- Expectations
- Actual chances for success
- Other factors to consider
* Planning of the project. Important decisions to make
* Normal evolution of the process, what to expect
* Do we need help? When to consult a specialist

BRINGING UP A CHILD WITH TWO LANGUAGES II
* General considerations:
- A good definition of bilingualism
- Bilingualisms: infinite possibilities
- Priority: to communicate
* Bilingualism and family:
- When to start
- How to do it: Who speaks what language
- Language and emotional attachments
* Bilingualism and school:
- Choosing a school (factors and examples)
- The challenge of reading and writing: when and in what order
- Language classes: a double-edged sword
* Bilingualism and relationships:
- Activities with peers
- The parental model
- Problems of exclusion and xenophobia
* When to consult a specialist

Next Dates
Friday 23rd of October: Workshop I & II
Friday 27th of November: Workshop I & II
Friday 18th of December: Workshop I & II

For more information, please visit SINEWS at www.sinews.es.