What is a heritage language?
A heritage language is a language connected to a child's family or cultural background that is spoken at home or by relatives, but is not the main language of the country where the child lives.
Heritage languages are common in families who have moved countries or whose grandparents came from elsewhere. A child born in Canada to Indian parents might hear Hindi or Tamil at home, while English or French dominates school and friendships. That home language is their heritage language.
Children who speak a heritage language often understand it well but may feel more confident in the community language. For example, a seven-year-old in the US might follow everything Grandma says in Spanish yet reply in English. This is very common and does not mean the heritage language is lost.
Heritage languages carry more than words. They connect children to grandparents, family stories, festivals, food and a sense of identity. Many parents find that once children see the language as part of who they are, they become more willing to use it.
Practical tips: create regular, low-pressure moments in the language, such as a weekly call with relatives or cooking a family recipe together while chatting. Celebrate cultural festivals and share the stories behind them. Praise effort rather than correcting every mistake. Look for books, songs and audio stories in the heritage language so it feels fun and modern, not only something for grown-ups. Listening to a favourite story in English and then in the heritage language can help children follow along and feel successful.
Every bit of exposure counts, and it is never too late to bring the language back into daily life.
