How might my child's use of English develop?

Learning a new language is more complicated and takes longer than many people think. It is much more than learning correct grammar and vocabulary. At the beginning of learning English, your child may:

• Listen only and speak very little, if at all.
• Remain silent for a lengthy period of time – understanding more than they say.
• Use simple English words and phrases when speaking with friends.
• Use simple English words and phrases to communicate needs e.g. “toilet”, “drink”.
• Begin to identify letter sounds.
• Begin to read and write simple words.
• Copy simple sentences, read them and understand their meaning alongside pictures.
• Write simple sentences and read them aloud.

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