Towards bilingualism

Don’t worry, this is not going to beto have nigh-unlimited reserves of Britons able to
some theoretical treatise on the psychologicalparachute into occupied Europe with an authentic
considerations of the subject, butand fluent use of the German language.
‘Towards bilingualism’ can beFrom a practical point of view, I feel it helps if
relevant to the way you teach a foreign language,students try not to translate from English to the
as basically bilingualism is what you and yourother language. Cognitive processes are fast, but
students should be (are?) striving for.it obviously takes time to decide what to say in
Learning more than one language from earlyEnglish, and then translate it. This especially applies
childhood not only makes it easier to grasp theto group discussions, when there is not much time
languages but it also seems to make it easier toto think before opening one’s mouth,
acquire further languages in later life. It may beespecially before someone else does!
that children are helped by learning that a tableAt least in the initial stages of learning a language,
isn’t a table, it’s just whatperhaps the student can have a number of stock
that’s called in English (and that, byphrases that come easily to mind. These can then
using a different vocal framework, it’sbe adapted with only perhaps a change of noun
also just what it’s called in French).each time. “I would like to buy a ...
Perhaps one also becomes more tolerant toplease” readily comes to mind, but
different forms of grammar.other throwaway phrases such as introductions or
This bilingual situation is to be found in many areasexclamations, such as ‘What a
of the world, often as a result of colonialismpity’ or ‘That’s
where a native language is forced to compete, orwhat you think’, can perhaps be picked
more likely, is subjugated to aup in conversation and recycled (although these
conqueror’s language or a moremight give the impression that the student is
politically powerful tongue. These linguisticmore fluent than she or he is). Of course,
battlefields occur, for example, in Brittany inI’m not suggesting an excessive use
France; in the French-speaking province ofof these, except in the early stages of learning.
Québec in Canada; and in Belgium, whereTo avoid translating try to think of what you
Flemish speakers compete with those who speakwant to say as a visual stream, or perhaps a
Walloon (similar to French). Although I am originallyvideo and describe the “video”
from France, I currently teach French in Wales,in the foreign language. It might sound difficult, but
and so have some knowledge of how attitudes toafter a while it becomes easier, and one might
the Welsh language have changed over the years.even begin dreaming in the foreign language!
This situation occurs not only in Wales but also inSo, when two bilinguals meet, in what language do
Britain where there are large ethnic communitiesthey talk? I’m not sure if any degree
who wish to retain their native language whilst stillof etiquette is involved, but it would seem to
learning English.depend on the speakers’ relative
But, returning to the acquisition of languages fromproficiency and on how secretive you think you
mainland Europe, how can one learn to approach aneed to be.
state of bilingualism? Or rather, is it possible toAlso, perhaps it depends on which language is
feel comfortable in another language rather thanmost suited to what you are talking about: if
just to get by in that language? Films set duringit’s romance, it has to be French!
the last War often amuse me as Britain appeared