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08-10-2009 - ::Bilingualism::

My mood while writing this blog: Ok

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So Ive been having a few issues with introducing both french and english to Sydney. My entire family is bilingual, everyone from my parent/brother to my aunts uncles and cousins are all fluent in both english and french. Mike's family however only speaks english on the exception of his maternal/paternal grandmothers who speak french as well as english. At home I speak to Sydney in both french and english as does everyone in my family (Ive even introduced a bit of spanish to her) Mike has expressed a problem with this. He seems to be opposed to speaking anything but english to her/around her. He seems to think that once she starts speaking shell do so in french resulting in him not being able to understand what his daughter is trying to say to him. Ive tried to explain countless times that it is not the case and that he might even be able to learn a bit of french because of her leaning frech, but regardless of my attempts to convince him that her being introduced to both languages will not pose any blocks in communication between them, he wont budge. Its really frustrating to think that he would want to deprive his daughter of learning two languages and subsequently having future opportunities that uinlingual people might not have. Has any one else had this problem? Do you guys have any advice on how I could reassure him that this not only best for our daughter but it definately will not affect communication between them? He can just as easily learn french bit by bit along with her, but as he said he has no interest in french and he actually thinks its stupid! Grrrr! Im just so frustrated with his insolence! :|

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4 Comments on ::Bilingualism::


*Ashlynns*Mama* - Friday, 9 Oct
i'm going to have to go through the same thing you are except with spanish and english. BUT the only upside is that i'm willing to learn how to speak spanish (have been trying/learning for the past year and half LOL) i wish your hubby would just try for the sake of helping your daughter. i know a little spanish so i think it'll be easier for me when my daughter asks me questions but i know some things will be rough. my fiane's dad and mom speak NOTHING but spanish so she has to know both languages...good luck :-)

silvertree - Thursday, 8 Oct
From what I've learned, to teach a baby two languages, one parent should speak french and the other should speak english all the time. Their language entirely sometimes is delayed a bit longer than babies learning only one language, but they will be able to communicate in both. In a place like "ottawa" your child will benefit speaking both languages! Its unfortunate that your hubby feels differently. Sydney will communicate with her dad in english if that is what he speaks to her, and she will likely communicate in french with you if that is all you speak to her until she has developed both language skills. Maybe throwing in Spanish is a little much right away...but 2 languages is a great idea!!! The younger the child the more elasticity there is in the brain to absorb language skills. I took Linguistics in university...the younger you introduce the language the easier it is for them to learn it. Are you going to do any baby sign language with her?

barunka05 - Thursday, 8 Oct
I have two kids. 10 months and almost 4 year old. We speak around her 4 lanuages, which all 4 she understands. She also knows how to speak to mom and how to speak to her dad. Because my husband doesn't understand czech which is my language we all speak english when we are together but when i'am with the kids alone i talk to them in czech. She has no problem to switch between the languages. I must say that the most fluent she is in english but understand all of the rest and speak it a little bit. I heard that if there is more than one language introduced to kids in early age it helps them tremendously in school because their mind is ready to absorb more informations.

Emauk - Thursday, 8 Oct
i'm not bilingual but my friend is German and her husband English..and he can't speak any german but she speaks both languages..and so does her son..she has taught him german and her husband has taught him English..he speaks to his dad in English..and all the english people in English..and speaks to his mum in German and her relatives in german..he doesn't get mixed up at all with the different languages..just means he has more opportunitys when he grows up...I wish I was bilingual..Marks cousine is bilingual too...her dad is portugese and mum English..so she knows both languages too..she's 15 now..and she does sometimes use it to talk about people behing there backs to her mum..(which pi**es me off sometimes..)..but as a kid...had no problem communicating to other people...with the little boy..if he starts talking in German to someone who doesn't speak German..his mum or dad will say.."English please"..and he'll start talking in English..he's about 4yrs old now..I think it's great..wish I could teach my son another language..take care..Just tell him from other peoples experiences..they will talk in whatever language that you are talking to them in..plus..my son is 2yrs..and he's completely English speaking..and even I don't understand him some of the time..haha..take care..Xx