What is the difference between simultaneous bilingualism and sequential bilingualism and give an example of each one
Simultaneous bilingualism refers to the development of two languages from birth or early childhood, where a child is exposed to and acquires both languages simultaneously. This occurs when a child is raised in an environment where two languages are regularly spoken, such as when parents or caregivers each speak a different language. The child naturally learns and becomes proficient in both languages at the same time.
Example: A child growing up in a household where the mother speaks English and the father speaks Spanish. The child learns to speak and understand both languages interchangeably from a young age.
Sequential bilingualism, on the other hand, refers to the development of one language first, followed by the acquisition of another language at a later stage in life. This occurs when an individual begins to learn a second language after already having a solid foundation in their first language.
Example: An individual who moves from Germany to the United States as a teenager and learns to speak English fluently after already being proficient in German.