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