Customer Reviews:
 A good message but poor on specific, practical information May 15, 2003
45 out of 47 found this review helpful
This book confirms and repeats, over and over again, that bilingualism is a good thing, that there are no disadvantages to bilingualism, and that young children are, for the most part, good at learning languages. This should allay any unfounded fears parents may have that bilingualism might not be a good idea. The poor side of the book is that it can essentially be condensed into the above review. There is little or no practical advice on how parents can best bring up a baby to be bilingual short of those methods obvious to most people (e.g. "talk to your child"). The second half of the book covers different approaches in different schools. The message is good (if obvious), the content shallow.
 an excellent and easy to read introduction to the subject April 18, 2003
13 out of 17 found this review helpful
This book really met our family's needs - we are a bilingual family, in the exact same situation as Colin Baker and his family - which ment that the case studies were of real practical help. It is really useful to use as an arguing tool for anybody who comes up against prejudice against bringing one's children bilingual.
It's also very easy to read, I feel I'll be referring to this one again!
Practical guide to bilingualism January 22, 2002
dorismerkl@hotmail.com (North Wales, UK)
36 out of 36 found this review helpful
Colin Baker's book is a practical guide for achieving bilingualism in children. Its structure makes it very easily accessible to both parents and teachers alike, in that each section addresses a question about a particular aspect of bilingualism. It is split into two main sections, the first one dealing with issues in the home and the second one with issues in the school environment. Some sections also contain references for those interested in delving a bit deeper into the subject. There is a helpful glossary at the back of the book explaining the linguistic terminology used throughout the book. All in all, it's an excellent guide for people interested in bilingual issues.
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