The short answer is yes. We naturally assume that parents always pass on their own native language, but you can absolutely pass on another language you speak very well, especially if it’s part of your daily life for a variety of reasons.
The long answer is also yes, but the process may be a bit more demanding.
Here are three practical tips to help you raise a bilingual child.
Learn the language of early childhood
If you learned the language as an adult, it means you didn’t grow up with it, and you probably never heard or spoke the language of babies and young children in that language. No one sang you lullabies, taught you nursery rhymes, or played children’s games like “one, two, three, star!” in German.
Try to fill these gaps using all the resources you can find: books, songs, cartoons, and YouTube videos.
If you need inspiration, explore online resources with children’s content in the language you want to introduce at home.
And if you want guidance on where to begin, or need a customized plan, discover my coaching for multilingual families.
Immerse yourself in the target language as much as possible
To pass a language on to your child, excellent proficiency alone isn’t enough; you also need to be exposed to that language regularly.
“You can’t pour from an empty cup.”
Speaking the target language for work is good practice, but do you also use it during your free time? Are you surrounded by it in relaxed, enjoyable contexts?
If your linguistic input outside of work or adult conversations isn’t enough, then try integrating it more into your life.
For example, you can spend time with friends who speak that language, join expat or language groups, call or video-chat with friends abroad, read books or watch movies about topics you enjoy
In short:
Expose yourself to the language in natural, enjoyable situations.
Always remember: authentic dialogue is ideal. Books, radio, and movies are great, but they are one-way input.
If you enjoy podcasts, choose ones where at least two people have a natural conversation about something you’re genuinely interested in — this gives you real, non-work language exposure.
Stay consistent with your language routine
It’s probably unrealistic to speak English (or any second language) with your child 100% of the time, all day long.
But creating dedicated language moments throughout the day can be more than enough.
The most important thing is consistency.
If you decide to read a book together every night before bed, make it a routine — a habit — and do it every evening.
If it works better for your family to choose Wednesday afternoons and the weekend for your language time, that’s equally effective, as long as you do it consistently.
Both the quantity and quality of input matter, but repetition and consistency are just as essential.
They are the foundation of bilingual upbringing at home.
Want to learn how to introduce a second language into your daily life — without stress?
Book a free discovery session to discuss your family’s linguistic needs and create a personalized, sustainable strategy together.