Job Discussion Forums

[cj100]

Looking for reading material and other sources on raising bilingual kids...I know someone who is seeking information on how he and his wife, parents with two different mother tongues, should go about exposing their toddler to equal parts German and English. Any advice on what they can read or study regading the most bulletproof approach?
Thanks for any help/ideas.

[rogan]

I'm no expert - just 4 bilingual kids and 3 growing bilingual grandkids.

All we did was use L1 at home L2 was used at school.

For the grandkids
mothers (and their immediate family members) use one language and fathers (and their immediate family members) use the other language. Systematically - questions asked in 1 language can be answered in the other.

My own kids have no L1 or L2 - they see no differences.
Their language of preference depends on who they are talking to, and about what they are talking about.

The youngest two (arrived in country age 2 years) went through a phase from about age 5 to age 8 of asking "Is this word French or English?" when they encountered a new word.
Now they see the differences.

Incidentally, one twin is slightly stronger in French.
The other is slightly stronger in English

Hope that helps - remember I'm no expert and I read no books - I just live the experience.

There are times when there are 4 languages being used around our dinner table (depending on the visitors and family members who are present) . Eng, Fr, Ger and Russian - all of us can use 2, some of us can use 3 and the twins can use 4.

[scot47]

There is a HUGE literature on this now. I am headed back to Chateau Ecosse where I keep my library. Will give you a couple of leads in a few days.

One approach that we toyed with was the "One Parent : One Language" idea. Not very successful. Rememebr that once kids start going to kindetrgarten or nursery school (and watching TV) they are exposed to powerful pressures about which language to use and how.

[MELEE]

Here are some links on the topic:

Interact with others in this situation:
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppbilingual

A small clearing house for members of the message board
http://pages.ivillage.com/robinshe/bilingual/

And two bibliographies
http://www.multi-faceta.com/reference.html#Anchor-Referenc-47538
http://www.swcp.com/~ldraper/slim/biblios/browntiina.html

[naturegirl321]

Rogan,
How in the world did you teach your children 4 languages!!
That's amazing, I hope to teach my kids at least two. First I've got to master some and then there's that whole marriage thing. . . .

[rogan]

Teaching 4 languages ? No need to - they simply lived in the countries, went to school, played with other kids, watched TV etc etc.

But I stress that I NEVER read a book about bilingualism.

Kids are possible without/before marriage - ask my two oldest daughters.

[ESL Guru]

Rogan -

I have six bilingual kids and could not agree more with your posts.

[Ann]

I'm bilingual and agree with rogan. Exposure to both languages is necessary in the developing years.
Too many parents leave off after 5-6 years. That's not sufficient.
I plan to teach my children (if I have any) 3-4 languages because I am bilingual and my fiance's native language is different, and the country we will live in will be another. What fun!

[enigma]

Ahh slightly off topic but...

All this talk about bi-, tri- and even quadrilingual children makes me feel like such an ignorant, uncultured North American. I only speak English, and some fairly fluent but somewhat inaccurate French. Most (not all) N. Americans have only limited knowledge of languages other than English. Even in my narrow linguistic experience, I can see that the ability to speak, and especially to think, in another language gives great insight into the way of thinking and point of view of the other culture. I cannot help but think that Americans could be a more compassionate and understanding people if they would first open their minds to the languages of others. It is too bad that the international prevalence of English, and the size of our countries (Canada and the USA), make it so easy for us to be lazy about learning other languages.

I find the difference especially striking when I encounter people from the smaller European countries, where the proximity of other countries makes it necessary to learn several languages other than one's "native tongue". They almost always seem to be able to adapt to the subtleties of different thought patterns, as they switch languages. I am jealous (!) and I wish that I had had more linguistic options in early childhood.

So kudos to all those who give their children the opportunity to learn different languages! They will thank you for it in the future.

Now it's time for me to try to acquire some basic Mandarin before I head to China, for the first time. Am I too old yet to learn to speak it fluently? I'll let you guys (and gals) know...