Learning Resources

• Hints and Tips on helping your child to speak Gujarati
  
  
• Gujarati Schools Directory 

Tried & Tested
Hints and Tips on helping your child to speak Gujarati
written by our panel of parents

1. Speak to your child in Gujarati from the beginning and stick to it.
2. Make a COMMITMENT to teach your child. If you are not comfortable and not consistent in creating an environment at home when you are speaking in Gujarati, then you will not see results.
3. Make an effort and speak to your spouse in Gujarati when your child is around.
4. Ensure that Gujarati is spoken when visiting family/friends especially in the early years.
5. Where possible ensure grandparents, uncles and aunts speak to your child in Gujarati
6. If your child describes something in English, get them to revert back and ask them to say the same thing in Gujarati.
7. A significant sign that they have truly picked up the language is when you notice that their brain is “thinking” in Gujarati. You will notice this when your child is learning English and begins to translate the Gujarati language to English.
8. If possible take your children to visit India, Kenya or other such countries where the main language at home is Gujarati. When exposed to such an environment your child will automatically begin to speak the language.
9. Stimulate your children and by exposing them to Gujarati songs, films and plays.
10. When travelling in the car take Sansaar’s albums with you and watch your child react to the songs.
11. Play simple games in the car, for example, play “I spy with my little eye” using Gujarati colours.
12. Take a step further and enrol your child into a Gujarati school so that they can learn to read and write the language.
13. Above all have fun and nurture their confidence. Recognise and compliment the efforts made by your child.

Gujarati Schools Directory