An article in the New York Times suggests that NYC parents are looking more and more for bilingual nannies to help teach their children another language from the early days.  Click here to read the article.  The trend is not surprising given the push across the country to make our children more globally equipped with additional language training.  But is it effective?  Can a Spanish speaking nanny, who may spend hours upon hours with the child, really make them bilingual. 

In my experience, language learning is better approached as language living.  If you really want to learn a different language than you must immerse yourself in it.  Nannies provide an invaluable service to the working families of the world but I don't think that language education should be included in their duties.  While the nanny may be able to encourage the development of a second language, if the language is not used in a setting outside of the home that gives it validation, then the child will not retain it as an important method of communication. 

Some children will develop difficulties with speech and communication as a result of the pressure, whether real or precieved, to learn another language, especially when the parents aren't able to reinforce that learning with relevant applications.  In a home where two languages are spoken it is completely appropriate to raise bilingual children, although it will take diligence and care not to create language confusion or other issues.  But in a home where only English is spoken, does it really make sense to push the issue?  If you are that serious about it, consider an immersion school, where learning is legitimate and applicable.  Or better yet, make the drastic move to another country and learn the language as a whole family.