Urdu at Home, English at School: Is That the Delay?
Written by the Inclusive Developmental and Therapy Center therapy team — our Speech & Language Therapist, psychology and ABA staff. Clinical reviewer for this site: Dr Muhammad Suffyan, MB BS (GMC 8023727) · Updated August 2026; this page has changed since our last clinical review.
A child who is quiet in an English classroom and lively in Urdu at home is not automatically delayed. The teacher sees one list of words. You see the other. Add them together, subtract the ones that are the same idea twice, and that is the vocabulary. Growing up with two languages does not cause a speech delay. A genuine delay shows in both.
This is the school-side companion to does bilingualism cause speech delay? and raising a child in a bilingual home. It is written for families in the UK, Ireland, the Gulf, North America and Australia whose child is in an English setting.
What to tell the teacher this week
- Which languages are spoken at home, and by whom
- Roughly how many words you hear in Urdu (or Punjabi, Pahari, Pashto, Arabic) as well as English
- Whether they point, show, and turn to their name in either language — those do not depend on English
- One classroom ask: extra time to start, not a demand to “speak English only at home”
A teacher who only hears English will under-count. A one-page note beats a diagnosis argument. Letter to school. If they freeze in English but talk at home, also consider selective mutism — that is fear, not a missing language.
When it is a real delay, not a split
- Few words in every language, not only in English
- No pointing to show, no looking when called, little pretend play — pretend play, joint attention
- Speech that close family cannot understand at four or five
- Lost words or skills they already had
- Hearing in doubt — glue ear
Dropping Urdu “so English can catch up” is the move we see most, and it is usually the wrong one. The child loses the language they hear from grandparents and gains a thinner model from an adult speaking English they are less fluent in. Keep the language you speak best. English will come from school if they are there all day.
We coach this split online from Multan, in Urdu or English: online Urdu speech therapy abroad. A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes. Tell us both word lists, not just the English one the nursery wrote down.
Frequently asked questions
Should we speak only English at home now they are at school?
Usually no. Keep the language you are most fluent and relaxed in. English comes from school and friends. A genuine delay shows in both languages, not only in English.
The teacher says they have no words. They talk to us in Urdu.
Tell the teacher the Urdu list. Count both languages together. Nursery only sees English. That under-count is how bilingual children get labelled delayed when they are not.
They mix Urdu and English in one sentence. Is that confusion?
No. Mixing is typical. It is not a disorder. See mixing Urdu and English.
When is it actually a delay?
When both languages are thin, or when looking, pointing, pretend play or understanding are also behind, or hearing is in doubt. Then get a look — locally and, if you want Urdu coaching, with us.
Can you talk to the school in English?
After a consultation we can help you write a short, plain summary. We do not cold-call a UK or Gulf school. The letter to school is yours to send.
How do we start with you from abroad?
Message WhatsApp with your city and both languages. A consultation is Rs 1,500 and lasts up to 50 minutes. Country pages sit under help worldwide.