I know I’m a bit early with this post—since we still have over a month until the year ends—but I plan to take December off and so I’ll share this list today.
It’s been a good year, but it’s also true that I’m getting weary and I need a little break from blogging. I’ll continue sending out my weekly newsletter, though, as well as mingling with my fellow “keepers” of bilingual and multilingual kids at my forum, The Bilingual Zoo.
Not only could I use more rest—lately, my body has been signaling for a slow-down by awarding me with various ailments (see Parents of Bilingual Kids, Take Time to Relax and Recharge Your Energy!)—it’s also true that I now need more time to focus on finally completing a big project that has been many years in the making…
My first novel!
This novel, which tells a fun, lively tale for all ages, will be available early next year. Titled How I Lost My Ear, it’s a rollicking adventure involving a book-loving boy, a marching band, a moody grandmother with beautiful blond curls, a long-lost hero and his three-legged moose, a dancing bear, a poisonous spider, a baby-snatching owl, a shaggy yak of a man and his snapping turtle, a herd of 144 spitting llamas—and a very large, very hungry ogre.
With wonderful illustrations by the brilliant Simon Farrow, it’s a book that I’m excited to share with you very soon.
The 10 Most Popular Posts
Now, without further ado, here are the 10 most popular posts of 2017, ranked, from 10 to 1, by the total number of page views and shares on social media. (Many thanks for sharing my work with the world!)
10. “A Little Monkey Business”: Another Fun, Productive Project for Language Exposure
This short film, improvised by my son and me, is a lively example of a short-term project that can promote language exposure.
9. Guest Post: Engaging Your Incredible Bilingual Child in the Minority Language
Trilingual speech-language pathologist Ana Paula Mumy offers another insightful guest post, from her personal perspective as a parent.
8. How I Got My Bilingual Daughter to Eagerly Do Her Homework in the Minority Language
This playful idea can help promote motivation in children and engagement in the target language.
7. This Key Principle for Raising Bilingual Kids Is a Vital Part of Our Efforts, From Babies to Teens
The home environment should be mindfully, proactively shaped (and reshaped), on an ongoing basis, to effectively support our bilingual aim.
6. This Is Embarrassing, But It’s a Story That Could Benefit Your Bilingual Journey (And Your Teeth)
There are two kinds of daily habits and these habits gradually lead, over time, to two kinds of longer-term outcomes: satisfying outcomes and dissatisfying outcomes.
This Christmas, give the gift of greater success and joy on the bilingual journey.
From the founder of Bilingual Monkeys and The Bilingual Zoo, a book of ideas and inspiration that can help your family, and families you know, make the most of 2018 and beyond. Praised worldwide by parents of bilingual children and leaders in the field, Maximize Your Child’s Bilingual Ability is a unique and empowering guide with a wealth of actionable advice for strengthening language development and progress over the childhood years.
5. Guest Post: Bilingual Families and the Importance of Limiting the Influence of the Majority Language at Home
In this encouraging guest post, Amy González explains how she proactively “kicked out” the majority language from her home.
4. Here’s Clear Proof of the Basic Formula for Successfully Raising a Bilingual Child
Are you adequately addressing the two “core conditions” for success in your efforts to raise a bilingual child? This post offers clear proof of how central these “core conditions” are to satisfying progress.
3. The Basic Formula for Bilingual Success
Can you mix the basic formula for empowering success at raising bilingual or multilingual children?
2. 8 Fun Ways to Get Your Bilingual Child Loving the Minority Language More
These playful ideas can provide engaging, effective language input while nurturing a positive attitude toward the target language.
1. Look How Far We’ve Come On Our Bilingual Journey (And How Far You Can Go, Too)
Here’s a special peek at the growth of my children’s ability in the minority language over the years.
