How should parents balance the learning of Filipino and English at home?: Consistent teaching behaviors towards children

Abstract

This qualitative study explored how Filipino parents balance the use of Filipino and English when teaching and communicating with their children at home. Twenty parents participated in semi-structured interviews to share their experiences, routines, challenges, and strategies in supporting bilingual language development. The study found that parents decide to use Filipino or English depending on the situation, with English mostly used for academic support and Filipino for emotional and cultural connections. Parents also employed routines like bilingual reading time, storytelling, and real-life conversations to help children learn both languages. Despite their efforts, many parents faced challenges such as children’s preference for English due to school and media influences, limited time, and parents’ own language confidence. The findings reveal that parents play an important role in nurturing bilingualism by creating a supportive home environment that values both languages. This study adds to the understanding of bilingual parenting in the Philippine context and offers insights for families and educators who aim to promote balanced bilingual development.