Home Language

You are your child's first teacher

When you speak the language which comes most naturally to you, your child develops a strong foundation of language skills that can then extend into English. 

How we can help you

The library is here to support you. Sharing a home language is a precious gift you can give your child. Talking, reading and singing songs and rhymes are some of the best ways to share your home language with your child, and immerse them in your culture.

Frankston City Libraries offers free bulk inter-library loans of books in community languages from libraries all over Victoria. Place a request with a library team member and our Inter Library Loan officer will look into sourcing books in your home language for you. This is free. You can also suggest the library purchase a title to add to our collection for you to borrow, via suggest a title.

Any book in our collection can become a home language book! You can translate any book you borrow into your home language as you read. You can translate the words, or just talk about what you see in the pictures! Stickers or labels with your home language written can be used to cover or stick alongside the English text on any book that belongs to you.

The State Library of Victoria hosts a large collection of children’s picture books in many different community languages in their Children’s Quarter. Though these books cannot be borrowed, a visit to the State Library to browse and share these books with your child could be a special day out.

If you are a parent trying to learn or reclaim your child’s home language, your Frankston City Libraries library card offers you free access to Transparent Language Online, a language learning app with over 100 languages.