What is Simultaneous Bilingualism?
Speaking two languages ??at the same time is often the result of prolonged exposure to two languages ??from birth.
This could lead, for example, from one parent or primary caregiver speaking to a child in one language and another parent or primary caregiver speaking to the child in another language.
In contrast, sequential bilingual or consecutive languages ??develop a fluency in a second language after achieving the use of the first language.
Studies have shown that very young children who have developed two languages ??simultaneously are able to discriminate and switch between two languages ??appropriately socially.
Researchers have also found that bilingualism is associated with increased awareness, sensitivity to communication, and a variety of thinking skills.
What is Sequential Bilingualism?
When children are introduced to other languages ??three years of age or older, they are considered to be two sequential or successive bilinguals.
Two consecutive languages ??differ from two receiving languages ??in that they have little chance of acquiring adoption skills before the age of three. In fact, they are learning the language from the scratch.
Two consecutive languages ??go through four stages. Children can be seen in this one or more of such categories depending on the context, communication partners, language barriers, and opportunities provided by the teacher.
Going through four stages can take anywhere from six months to two years, depending on the child and the quality of the child’s language – the learning environment.
It is important to note that full fluency in any language takes anywhere from four to ten years. Fluency involves comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.
Let us work on the main differences between sequential and simultaneous bilingualism:
Students of the same language or simultaneous bilinguals are those who learn two or more languages ??simultaneously from birth or who start learning a second language before three years.
In addition, these students have become fluent in both languages, each of which is considered to be their first language.
Although both languages ??will grow at the same rate, the pace of learning two or more languages ??may be slower than that of a child learning only one language.
Learners of consecutive languages ??or sequential bilingualism are those who first learn an additional language at the age of three.
For more than 36 years, these students usually have access to at least basic learning in their first language. Basic dominance often indicates that they have learned about 3,000 words and the use of simple sentences.
Most preschool children who speak fluent in their home language go through the stages of second language acquisition, more details about which can be found in the table below.